Ontario public elementary teachers voted for a strike mandate. What does this mean?
CTV
What you need to know about Ontario's public elementary teachers' strike mandate.
Ontario public elementary teachers have voted 95 per cent in favour of a strike mandate on Wednesday.
The Elementary Teacher’s Federation of Ontario (ETFO) represents about 80,000 public elementary teachers and occasional teachers and says the vote “sends a very clear message to the government.”
Here’s what you need to know:
DOES THIS MEAN THERE WILL BE A STRIKE?
Not necessarily. Labour negotiations will continue between the Ontario government and ETFO, but if negotiations fall flat it means that members have indicated they are in favour of going on strike.
It’s the next legal step the union has to take as part of the stalled bargaining process, similarly to a request for conciliation—which ETFO has already done.
Conciliation is a formal mediation process in which a third-party is brought in to work with both sides and help find a resolution. It’s a common process prior to union members engaging in any strikes or work action.
