The Renfrew County Catholic District School Board (RCCDSB) and the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association (OECTA) have recently negotiated a new collective agreement, commonly referred to as the RCCDSB cope collective agreement.

The agreement covers a wide range of issues, including salaries, benefits, and working conditions for teachers in the RCCDSB. It has been in effect since September 1, 2019, and will be in place until August 31, 2022.

One of the key provisions of the RCCDSB cope collective agreement is the salary increases for teachers. As of September 1, 2019, teachers received a 1.5% increase in their base salary. This was followed by a 1% increase on September 1, 2020, and an additional 1% increase on September 1, 2021.

The agreement also includes improvements to the benefits package offered to teachers. For instance, teachers who retire after August 31, 2022, will receive an increase in their retirement gratuity. In addition, the coverage for dental and vision care benefits has been improved, which can be beneficial for teachers and their families.

Another important component of the RCCDSB cope collective agreement is the workload provisions. The agreement outlines a maximum number of hours that teachers can be expected to work per week, as well as guidelines for how much time teachers should spend on a variety of different tasks, such as lesson planning and professional development.

The agreement also provides for additional preparation time for teachers who are responsible for teaching large class sizes. The goal of these provisions is to ensure that teachers have the time and resources they need to provide high-quality instruction to their students.

Overall, the RCCDSB cope collective agreement represents a positive outcome for both teachers and the school board. The agreement provides for reasonable salary increases and benefits improvements, as well as important workload protections for teachers. These provisions can help to ensure that teachers are able to continue providing excellent instruction to students in the RCCDSB.