Ontario’s Catholic teachers to be in legal strike position on Dec. 21

Ontario’s Catholic teachers will be in a legal strike position on Dec. 21.

The Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association says it received a “no board” report on Thursday, which starts a 17-day countdown to a legal strike position.

The union requested the report on Friday – after a conciliator assisted with a day of contract talks with the government – and the union said there was little prospect for further progress.

OECTA president Liz Stuart says Catholic teachers don’t have plans yet for strike action, but this should serve as a wake-up call for the government.

The development comes a day after public high-school teachers staged a one-day strike.

They were back in class on Thursday, but are continuing with an administrative work-to-rule campaign and warn there could be more walkouts if the government doesn’t change course in contract talks.

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