Ontario English Catholic teachers ratify deal with province

Ontario's Catholic teachers' union has ratified the deal it reached with the province last month.

The Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association (OECTA), which represents some 50,000 elementary and high school teachers, said its members ratified the agreement in a vote held Thursday.

The parties reached the deal on Aug. 25. However, a media blackout was put on the details until after the ratification vote. Those details have not yet been made public.

"We worked hard to address our members' concerns and believe this agreement protects them, as well as the quality of education in our schools," OECTA president Ann Hawkins said in a statement Friday.

"We're now looking forward to a productive and enriching school year for both teachers and students."

Hawkins later told CBC News that while the deal has been ratified, the contract is not official until each union localfinalizes aseparatedealwith their board.

"I remain hopeful that nobody wants any more disruptions of the school year," Hawkins said. "And I hope that all the boards will sit down with that intention in mind."

When a contract is finally done, the union will evaluate the bargaining process and make any changes it feels are necessary.

Back when the deal was reached, Ontario Education Minister Liz Sandals said it met the government's "net-zero" bargaining framework, which ensures that any salary increases are offset through the collective agreement.

On Friday, Sandals commended the bargaining teams "for their tenacity and commitment to work through difficult issues in order to reach a collective agreement.

"We knew this round of bargaining would be challenging given the fiscal environment. Our goal has always been to work with our partners to build confidence in our publicly funded education system and ensure its long-term strength and sustainability."

Sandals added that the Liberal government is "committed to constructive bargaining with our other partners in order to reach agreements at all tables."

Meanwhile, negotiations have yet to resume between the province andthe elementary teachers' union, which represents 78,000 teachers.

On Friday, a spokesperson for the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario (ETFO) told CBC News that "phase three" of its work-to-rule campaign will begin on Monday.