Bill 122, School Boards Collective Bargaining Act, 2014 brings stability to public education

TORONTO, April 8, 2014 /CNW/ - For more than five years, a key priority of the Ontario Public School Boards' Association has been to secure a legislated and fair structure and process for effective provincial bargaining. That priority was realized today when Bill 122, The School Boards Collective Bargaining Act, 2014 passed third reading in the Ontario legislature.

"Our goal has always been to bring stability to the entire education sector," said Michael Barrett, President of OPSBA. "The passage of Bill 122 will be the first step in seeing this become a reality." 

This legislation is the result of months of consultation with the education sector and its stakeholders.  OPSBA has been a key contributor to these consultations and advocated strenuously for an effective leading role for school boards in future negotiations.

In June 2013, OPSBA's Board of Directors approved a set of guiding principles for collective bargaining. These were presented to the Ministry of Education during consultation and OPSBA is pleased to see many of them reflected in the legislation.

"I congratulate our education partners for their leadership, guidance and perseverance in ensuring the passage of the School Boards Collective Bargaining Act," said President Barrett.

SOURCE: Ontario Public School Boards' Association

Jeff Sprang, 416-340-2540