September strike action ‘highly probable,’ Catholic teachers told

Come September, Catholic teachers across Ontario should expect to be engaging in strike action.

That message was delivered to teachers Wednesday, in the form of a letter from the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association.

"It's highly probable that the Association will need to take strike action in the fall if we do not make progress at the bargaining table," OECTA president James Ryan said in the letter, which was obtained by CTV Toronto.

Negotiations with the province have been “lengthy and complicated,” Ryan said in the letter.

In April, Catholic teachers voted 94 per cent in favour of handing their union a strike mandate.

At the time, Ryan said no strike action would be taken until June at the earliest.

The provincial government and school boards plan to “claw back” gains made over the years in working conditions and professional recognition, Ryan claimed.

OECTA represents Catholic teachers at both the elementary and secondary school levels.

With files from CTV Toronto