OSSTF tentative deal includes pay hike for teachers

Union leaders with the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF) endorsed a tentative agreement with the province last week.

With the tentative deal, the OSSTF has backed off its strike plans, and teachers will resume extracurricular activities.

According to national media — who obtained an internal union memo — the OSSTF members will receive payments and raises totalling 2.5 per cent over the next two years. The increase is not expected to cost taxpayers anything extra as it will be paid for with savings found elsewhere.

Members will also be allowed to take sick leave for medical or dental appointments, and long-term substitute teachers will double their maximum allowable sick days from 60 to 120.

Teachers will get one additional PA day, and management won't touch the amount of time they're required to spend supervising students outside of class.

The deal will go to union members for a ratification vote in September.