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Ontario elementary teachers ratify new contract

Eileen Buckley
/
WBFO News

Ontario's elementary teachers have ratified their new contract with the provincial government.

The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario said 97% of its teacher members voted in favor of the three-year deal.

It will see teachers get salary increases of 1% a year for three years and 4% annual increases to benefits.  The agreement also contains a two-year, $89-million "Support for Students" fund, which ETFO said will create about 434 teacher positions, to address areas such as special education, English language learning and mental-health initiatives.

The deal guarantees the one-teacher, one-early childhood educator model for full-day kindergarten for the life of the agreement, and says there will be no changes to elementary class sizes.

ETFO President Sam Hammond said in a statement that while the negotiations were "prolonged and difficult," teachers stood firm in the face of cuts.

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