Ontario public high school teachers to hold strike vote amid stalled bargaining

TORONTO – All of Ontario’s major education unions are holding strike votes in November, hopeful that strong mandates will lead to progress at the bargaining table.

The Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation announced Friday that its members will vote from Nov. 6 to 16. They join the other four major education unions, including the ones representing elementary teachers and Catholic teachers, in scheduling strike votes that month.

OSSTF president Martha Hradowy said the unions are collectively demanding the government invest more in public education.

“We are standing together for publicly funded education because regardless of which union you belong to, we are all facing the same pressures,” she said in an interview.

A large strike mandate would give the union an opportunity to strengthen its bargaining position and sends a clear message to the provincial government that members are united, Hradowy said.

A strike vote does not necessarily mean a strike will happen.

Current education contracts expired at the end of August, but negotiations are stalled as the Ontario Labour Relations Board decides on a dispute between unions and the government on which issues should be bargained centrally, and which should be left to local unions and school boards.

A spokesperson for Education Minister Paul Calandra said once the labour board process has concluded, the government will be ready and willing to negotiate new contracts at the bargaining table.

“Premature strike threats do not serve the interests of students and do nothing but create unnecessary panic for parents,” Emma Testani wrote in a statement.

“Our focus is where it should be — getting to the table and reaching a deal that keeps students in the classroom.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 25, 2026.