TORONTO - Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce says the government has reached a tentative contract with the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario.
ETFO is the largest teachers' union in the province and is the second major one - after Catholic teachers - to reach a deal during a highly contentious round of bargaining.
In a statement, Lecce says the government committed to maintaining class sizes and full-day kindergarten, investing in special education, and a "fair" increase in compensation.
The government has previously said it would not budge beyond an offer to increase wages and benefits by one per cent per year.
The major unions had asked for two per cent on salary and around six per cent on benefits - and that it wanted concessions on a regulation that dictates seniority-based hiring.
Lecce says he is focused on landing the remaining deals.