We wanted to give you an update regarding the most recent teacher and education worker arbitration awards. There was a teacher arbitration award for both ETFO and OSSTF and there was also an arbitration award for OSSTF education workers. All three awards were by Arbitrator Kaplan.
The teacher awards were based on percentage increases rather than the $1/hr per year agreed to by OPSEU/SEFPO (OCEW), CUPE and ETFO education workers.
An additional $1/hr represents a much greater wage improvement than a percentage increase for those on the lowest end of the wage grid. For example, $1/hr is a higher percentage increase for someone who makes $20/hr than someone who makes $40/hr.
All of the tables representing education workers got the same $1/hr increase over the four years. OPSEU/SEFPO (OCEW), CUPE, ETFO, and EWAO all agreed to this deal. OSSTF was awarded the same deal at arbitration.
The OPSEU/SEFPO (OCEW) deal is similar to the teacher deal (if not slightly better) when you consider the average percentage salary increase. For the lowest paid OPSEU/SEFPO education workers, the $1/hr OCEW deal is definitively better as a percentage increase than the teacher deal.
In summary, our lowest paid education workers did better overall, and we are looking forward to our next round of bargaining so we can continue to build on these accomplishments.
In solidarity,
Your OCEW representatives
Sandra Cadeau
Kelly Martin