The provincial government has announced it has reached a tentative collective agreement with Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 1253, which represents various groups of school employees.

The previous contract expired more than two years ago.

The CUPE local includes about 1,700 school bus drivers, custodians, maintenance and repair staff, forepersons and other tradespeople working throughout the province's school districts.

The deal has not been ratified by union members.

Details of the agreement have not been released.

Treasury Board President Roger Melanson thanked both negotiating teams in a statement.

"This illustrates our commitment to ensuring the government treats its employees with fairness by respecting the collective bargaining process," he said.