TORONTO — Ontario’s public elementary school teachers have voted 95 per cent in favour of a strike.

The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario has said that a strike mandate wouldn’t necessarily mean teachers will walk off the job, but will add pressure on the government to reach a contract deal with teachers at the bargaining table.

Negotiations are set to continue this month.

The union representing public high school teachers has agreed to a bargaining process with the government that will see the parties keep negotiating until Oct. 27 then send any outstanding issues to be resolved by arbitration, eliminating the possibility of a strike.

But ETFO and the other major teachers’ unions have rejected that pathway.

The Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association is also holding strike votes today and Thursday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 18, 2023.

The Canadian Press