Ontario Strengthens Collective Bargaining in Education Sector
Ontario has strengthened its successful model for collective bargaining in the education sector by making it more flexible, transparent and consistent.
Today, the province passed amendments to the School Boards Collective Bargaining Act. Changes to the legislation - which governs collective bargaining in the education sector - include:
- Allowing collective agreements to be extended
- Giving students and parents more notice of labour disruptions
- Ensuring all education workers' unions participate in central bargaining.
First introduced in February, amendments to the act were informed by extensive consultations with bargaining partners and recommendations from the Auditor General. They reflect the ongoing commitment from all parties to continue to improve the collective bargaining process in Ontario's education sector.
Supporting positive labour relations in Ontario's publicly funded education system is part of the government's plan to create jobs, grow the economy and help people in their everyday lives.
Quick Facts
- The School Boards Collective Bargaining Act is first-of-its-kind legislation informed by extensive consultations with trustees’ associations, school board staff, teacher federations and education worker unions.
- The first collective agreements under the act were reached in 2015. These agreements ensured students continued to benefit from one of the world’s best publicly funded education systems.
- Recently, the province, trustees’ associations, teacher federations and education worker unions reached tentative agreements to extend the 2014-2017 collective agreements for two more years.
