NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION
Teachers Ratify Tentative Agreement

Teachers in Newfoundland and Labrador have voted to accept the tentative collective agreement which was reached with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Newfoundland and Labrador School Boards Association. The agreement was recommended for acceptance by the NLTA's Provincial Executive Council.

Under the new agreement, all teachers will see improvements which include:

• compensation increases for all teachers and a recognition bonus;
• an additional day for report card preparation;
• limits on the scheduling and duration of meetings;
• improved benefits for teachers working in isolated schools, including all schools in Labrador;
• funding to add a new Coordinator for the Employee Assistance Program for Teachers;
• easier access to accrued sick leave for substitute teachers;
• changes to improve the timeliness and efficiency of staffing processes; and,
• the establishment of two committees, one to review the Responsive Teaching and Learning Model, and an advisory committee on the implementation of recommendations from the Teacher Allocation Review Committee.

"This agreement is an important step forward in addressing challenges in the retention and recruitment of teachers in this province," says Trent Langdon, President of the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers' Association. "Teachers in Newfoundland and Labrador are among the most highly qualified in Canada. We need to continue to build on the new contract through ongoing and consistent advocacy to see government make meaningful efforts to improve working and learning conditions in our K-12 public education system. Proper resourcing to support student needs is essential to keeping the excellent professional workforce we have in our schools and attracting new teachers to the profession."