Public elementary school teachers in Ontario have voted 95 percent in favour of a strike, their union announced.

The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) has revealed that a strike mandate doesn’t mean teachers will walk off the job, but will increase pressure on the government to dialogue with teachers at the bargaining table.

President Karen Brown said: “This strong strike mandate sends a very clear message to the government.

“We need the government to stop stalling and start negotiating seriously on our members’ key priorities, like providing more support for students with special needs, acknowledging the staffing crisis in education, putting a fair compensation offer on the table, and addressing violence in schools.”

Negotiations will continue this month.

The union representing public high school teachers has reached an agreement on a bargaining process with the government that will see the parties keep negotiating till October 27 and send any outstanding issues to be resolved by arbitration in a bid to eliminate the possibility of a strike.

Meanwhile, ETFO and the other major teachers’ unions have rejected that plan.

Education Minister Stephen Lecce said it is “extremely disappointing” that ETFO has rejected the pathway.

In a statement, he said: “Our government has remained at the table to avoid a strike and keep kids in class. ETFO has voted in favour of a strike mandate that Ontario families do not want or deserve.”

Also, the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association is currently holding strike votes.

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