Ontario elementary teachers set strike vote for November, second union to do so

TORONTO — Ontario elementary teachers are set to vote in November on whether they are willing to strike, making them the second group of teachers to plan such a vote.

The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario says in a note to its 84,000 teacher and education worker members that it will hold an online vote from Nov. 9 to 18.

The Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association has also scheduled a strike vote in November, telling members it wants to send a message to the government that there needs to be meaningful progress at the bargaining table.

Current education contracts expired at the end of August, but negotiations for a new deal stalled before they even really started, with the parties not agreeing on which issues should be bargained centrally, and which should be left to local unions and school boards.

The major education unions are awaiting a ruling on that from the Ontario Labour Relations Board.

The unions asked the government to start this round of bargaining early, in March, but it declined so talks began in June.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 18, 2026.

Allison Jones, The Canadian Press