NEWS RELEASE
AVON MAITLAND DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
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The Avon Maitland District School Board (AMDSB) and Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) affiliates are pleased to announce the successful conclusion of negotiations with our dedicated staff. Dates for reaching the tentative agreements and planned ratification are in brackets:
● Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation - OSSTF (3 groups):
○ Educational Support Staff Professionals - ESSP (March 21 and April 2, 2024)
○ Professional Student Services Personnel - PSSP (March 21 and April 2, 2024)
○ Teachers’ Bargaining Unit - TBU (March 20 and April 12, 2024)
Contract details will remain confidential until both parties complete their respective ratification processes.
“Reaching these tentative collective agreements exemplifies the board’s commitment to fostering an environment that values and prioritizes the invaluable contributions of our team towards enhancing student outcomes. Our bargaining team expresses sincere appreciation to the staff representatives for their unwavering commitment and collaborative approach.” said Laura Marotta, Superintendent of Human Resource Services.
“With this tentative agreement, our members, the students they serve, and our community can feel confident that the supports learners need will be there. Despite challenges from a provincial funding model that continues to shortchange the public education system in our province, our members remain committed to being a vital part of the educational team and this tentative deal is a testament to that.” added Carrie de Graaf, President, OSSTF - ESSP.
The tentative agreements, if ratified, would complete the local portion of the two-pronged contract talks, as per the School Board Collective Bargaining Act. The central portion of the agreement is currently in the provincial arbitration process.
“The Professional Student Services Personnel of District 8 provide vital supports for the students in the Avon Maitland District School Board. We are pleased that the employer has worked with us to ensure the continued success of our students. While the services we provide are woefully underfunded, we are pleased with the outcome of this round of negotiations and look forward to bringing this tentative agreement to our members for a ratification vote in the coming weeks.” said Terri Corriveau, President, OSSTF - PSSP.
“Discussions were as productive as possible, given the profound impacts of continued reductions in Provincial education funding affecting school boards across the province. Both sides did their best to work around funding restrictions to find a path forward that supports student learning and that benefits workers,” said Maureen Matchett, President, OSSTF - TBU.
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