Halton public school board finalizes all labour deals by Tim Whitnell Oakville Beaver Staff 33 | Thursday, April 7, 2016 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Following more than a year of negotiations, the Halton District School Board has reached local contract agreements with all of its labour groups. The board has ratified deals with nine unions, making it one of only a few school boards in Ontario to approve all of its contracts. The employee groups include Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE, custodians and maintenance), Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO), ETFO-Designated Early Childhood Educators, ETFO-Halton Elementary Occasional Teachers, Halton District Educational Assistants Association, Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF), OSSTF-Halton Secondary Occasional Teachers, OSSTF-Office, Clerical and Technical Unit, and OSSTF-Professional Student Services Personnel. All of the agreements are three-year deals that expire Aug. 31, 2017. "The board is looking forward to the review of the (Education) Act to see if it might streamline any of the processes to allow for a different experience in the next round (of bargaining)," Halton public board Executive Officer of Human Resources Debra McFadden told the Oakville Beaver, commenting on the length of time needed to get deals with all the groups. "The first time under the new process was likely the most difficult and we all learned things from it that will assist us in the next round," she added. Stuart Miller, director of education for the Halton District School Board, said he is proud of the hard work done by board staff and the unions. "Of the 72 boards in Ontario striving to reach 473 local deals, approximately 240 deals have yet to be finalized," Miller said. "Bargaining is always challenging," said Marg Macfarlane, president of the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario, Halton. "When our discussions are respectful, it makes it easier to reach agreements that work." 10%off All you can EAt Buffet (Lunch or Dinner Tues - Fri) staurant Sweets & Re at All You Can E n ria a t e g e V % 0 0 1 Et f f u B a Weekday s o Sam SpeCiaL LUNCH $1099 JUNIOR (3YR - 11YR) $8.99 KIds (2YR & Under) $ $ FURNACE diAgNostiC spECiAl 2 /$1 DiNNeR $1199 From 11am-3pm From 5pm-9pm AR REGUL $99.00 2345 Trafalgar Road · 905-257-0808 Free 9 locATIoNs To seRve you beTTeR www.aireone.com 49 liMitEd tiME oNlY! Must Present Coupon. Cannot be Combined with other offers. offers A+ RATING (905) 849-4998 Antique Appraisal Day at Amica at Oakville Tuesday, April 19, 2:00 - 4:00 pm. Join us for a seminar with an appraisal expert. Bring in your valuables to have them appraised. You'll also learn more about Amica's newest community in Bronte Village! YOU'RE INVITED For more information or to RSVP, please call 905.842.8167. First-Class Retirement Living · www.amica.ca Amica at Oakville 160 Bronte Road, Oakville, ON (905) 842-8167 · amica.ca/oakville