Ontario public secondary school teachers get raises in new deal

Ontario's secondary school teachers are set to receive a raise and there will be no increases to class size limits.

The details of a tentative contract agreement are outlined in a briefing that was given to local union leaders Friday and obtained by The Canadian Press.

The agreement between the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation, the Public School Boards' Association and the province was reached Thursday.

• Ontario public high school teachers reach deal with province

The briefing says the teachers will get a one-per-cent lump sum payment for the upcoming school year and a one-per-cent raise as of Sept. 1, 2016, with another half-per-cent later on.

It also says they will get improved sick leave and benefits, and an additional professional activity (PA)day within the current school year.

Education Minister Liz Sandals issued a statement that says she cannot comment on the specific terms of the tentative contract until it is ratified, but the teachers' union says all raises will be paid for through savings found elsewhere in the agreement.

The government has insisted it would not fund any salary increases until it eliminates an $11.9-billion deficit, which is scheduled to happen by 2017-18.

The Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association resumed contract talks this week after a three-month break, while the Elementary Teachers' Federation is expected to resume negotiations on Sept. 1.

Ontario's 130,000 teachers have been without contracts for a full year.

Teachers will now have a chance to vote on whether to ratify the deal.

Lori Foote, who is with the federation, confirmed the tentative deal. Shetold CBC News the vote to ratify will take place in September.