Ontario’s public elementary school teachers may be on strike by this time next week.
The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario will be in a legal strike position by Sunday, making Monday, May 11 the first potential day for job action affecting classrooms.
In a recorded phone message sent to ETFO members Monday evening and obtained by CTV News, ETFO president Sam Hammond blasted the province for making “unacceptable” demands.
“They seem to need a clearer message that ETFO members expect them to bargain seriously. Therefore, later this evening, ETFO will be providing OPSBA and the Liberal government with notice of strike action,” Hammond said in the message.
“All ETFO teacher and occasional teacher members will be engaging in strike action beginning Monday, May 11.”
More details would be forthcoming later in the week, Hammond said in the message.
Public high school teachers have already taken strike action in Durham Region, the Sudbury area and Peel Region.
High school teachers in Waterloo Region are also in a legal strike position, but have yet to announce any job action.
The union representing Catholic teachers has said no strike action would occur among its members until June at the earliest.
