Ontario elementary school and high school teachers in public schools will receive 11.25% per cent in wage increases over the next four years following an arbitration decision.
Earlier this month education unions across the province came to agreements with the Ontario government on a number of matters, but left wage increases up to an arbitration decision.
Arbitrator William Kaplan announced the decision of 11.25% in increases over four years, 11.73% increase when compounded over the contract term and retroactive to the 2022-23 school year.
The raises break down as 3% for the 2022-23 academic year, 3% for 2023-24, 2.75% for 2024-25 and 2.5% for 2025-26, and are separate from retroactive raises awarded following the court decision that found Bill 124 unconstitutional.
Total wage increases for 2019-2022 were brought to 7.25% in that arbitration decision, and those retroactive increases are to be paid by June
Several teachers on social media expressed disappointment with the deal that was reached this week, saying that raises aren’t even enough to match inflation.
In particular, the increase for 2022 at 3% represents less than half of the rate of inflation.
The wage increase applies to all members of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) and the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF), while the Ontario Catholic Teachers’ Association continue to wait on an arbitration ruling on compensation after agreeing to other matters earlier in the year.
In a statement from ETFO, President Karen Brown said it’s disappointing that negotiations were stretched out as far as they were.
“This compensation award should have been achieved at the bargaining table… the Ford government was intent on devaluing our members who are already facing increased violence, insufficient supports for students with special needs, heavy workloads, and burnout,” Brown said.
“This award highlights the Ford government’s failure to recognize and fairly compensate ETFO members.”
