Ontario teachers schedule strike votes amid stalled negotiations

Major education unions in Ontario are preparing for potential strikes following stalled labor negotiations. The Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario (ETFO) has scheduled an online strike vote to take place between November 9 and 18. Similarly, the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) will hold a vote from November 6 to 16.

Existing education contracts expired at the end of August. Negotiations have reached an impasse due to a dispute over whether bargaining should occur at a provincial level or be handled locally by individual unions and school boards. The Ontario Labour Relations Board is currently reviewing this issue. While the strike votes do not guarantee industrial action, union leaders state they are intended to strengthen their bargaining positions and demonstrate unity to the provincial government.