There doesn't seem to be too many tears coming from the catholic teachers after they reached a deal with the province today.

Ontario's English Catholic Teacher's Association (OECTA) reveals negotiations took over 24 hrs and wrapped up at 8:30 Thursday morning.

OECTA president Kevin O'Dwyer says these were the hardest negotiations he had to go to in his 20 years at the bargaining table.
He underlines the unpaid professional development day provision ensures that students classroom learning won't be threatened.

As for professional development (P.D.) days, O'Dwyer says the three which will not be paid won't be mandatory to attend but the other three will be.

The union underlines it did not make all the concessions in this tentative deal, with O'Dwyer maintaining now teachers will be able to rely on on their professional judgement on how to deal with teaching students in need. He also says they are looking to get a standardized hiring practice in place for all Catholic schools in the province.

O'Dwyer says he will be bringing the tentative agreement to local union councils next week to use this as a framework for their contract talks.