With 98% of Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario union members voting in support of a possible strike, it’s deja vu all over again for the province. Just weeks removed from avoiding a strike with the Canadian Union of Public Employees, the Ontario government is once more staring down the barrel of a disrupted school year. ETFO members have been without a contract since August 31st. But talks have stalled, which is why this strike vote took place over the last two months. Kent Cleland, President of an ETFO local says there are a few key points the sides aren’t too close on which have caused a lack of progress.
In his mind a good deal in broad strokes looks like keeping kindergarten program the same, improving special education services funding, and keeping class sizes from significant increases. Cleland clarified that these negotiations are on the provincial scale and locally no strike vote has taken place. He wouldn’t say whether or not he anticipates a local strike vote in the future.