ONTARIO – The union representing Ontario’s elementary school teachers voted 95 per cent in favour of a strike today.
“This strong strike mandate sends a very clear message to the government,” Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) president Karen Brown said in a press release.
This doesn’t necessarily mean work action is guaranteed, but if negotiations stall, ETFO now has that option at their disposal.
Binding arbitration was offered by the province in September to resolve outstanding disagreements at the bargaining table, but instead strike votes were called by ETFO and the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association. (OECTA)
“I really do hope that ETFO we’ll move quicker with this government to get this deal done. I know we can. I remain cautiously optimistic. I do believe parents are expecting the parties to move and to get this done,” Education Minister Stephen Lecce told media this afternoon.
“One hundred per cent of Ontario families have been abundantly clear after the pandemic and after rotating strikes, they demand the union and government and school board come together to keep their kids in class, and I, as minister, will do everything I can to make that case to get the unions to move quicker and to sign the deal that keeps his children in school,” he said.
In a joint statement released in August, ETFO, OECTA, and AEFO stated binding arbitration “would not support students,” and said going that route would “all but guarantee” key issues would not be addressed.
