The Sudbury Elementary Unit of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association (OECTA) and the Sudbury Catholic District School Board have ratified a new four year collective agreement (retro-active) from
September 2004 to August 2008. The OECTA membership voted in favour of the contract by 98.3 percent. The new agreement includes a wage parity adjustment on August 31, 2004 and annual increases totaling 9.5 percent over a four year period. The agreement ensures that the stable and co-operative work environment will continue at the Board’s 20 Catholic elementary schools.

Gary Kingerski, OECTA President, Sudbury Elementary stated that “when both parties began negotiations there was a willingness on both sides to come to an agreement without having to resort to work interruptions, a strike or lockout and/or arbitration. With this recent agreement, our elementary students can be assured that there will be no labour interruptions in the education sector.”

Paula Peroni, Chair of the Board’s negotiating committee and Board Chair is pleased with the fact that the contract has been ratified by the membership, stating that, “the fact that the OECTA membership ratified the agreement by such a large majority is extremely encouraging. Both parties during negotiations were looking to ensure that the interests of students were at the forefront of our discussions.”