Three thousand educational assistants, most in Dufferin-Peel, Halton, and Waterloo, have agreed to a new labour agreement with the provincial government, announced Friday afternoon by Education Minister Laurel Broten.

The deal fits within the framework of the agreement that the government is trying to impose on teachers in the legislature (and one reached in July with the Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association).

It includes a 2 year wage freeze, an end to the practice of banking sick days, and a 0.5 percent salary cut in the form of one unpaid professional day.

The "Putting Students First Act" was introduced on Monday and the Liberals are hoping to get it passed on September 10th. It would impose a two year wage freeze, and end to banking sick days, and would take away the right to strike.

The new deal for EAs was announced just a day before teachers without a new deal would see their collective agreements expire and automatically rollover, giving some raises, and according to the government, costing the province $473 million dollars it doesn't have.

The legislation is retroactive to September 1st and Broten says teachers that get raises will seem them clawed back once Bill 115 passes.

Three major unions, including the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation and the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario have not signed new agreements with the province.