Education support staff at local school boards have voted to ratify a two-year provincial agreement that will protect services and students while ensuring stability in schools, according to a news release.

Rainbow District School Board (Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 895), Sudbury Catholic District School Board (CUPE Local 1369), Conseil scolaire catholique du Nouvel Ontario (CUPE Local 4274) and Conseil scolaire public du Grand Nord de l'Ontario (Local 4865) are all included in the agreement.

The agreement addresses a number of issues including protecting services through better job security, better sick leave support, and protection of pension contributions.

“Our members understood what our bargaining committee faced at the provincial bargaining table in the shadow of Bill 115,” said CUPE 895 President Bill Desjardins. “Their support helped greatly throughout this entire process, and we thank them for that support.

“The fight is not over. Our local has concluded this round of bargaining for our members, but our concerns around Bill 115's infringement on our democratic rights remain. Bill 115 created a crisis in our schools and we will continue to campaign until all provincial leaders commit that they will not attack our basic collective bargaining rights in the future.”