From November 9 to 18, you and 84,000 ETFO members will vote on one question: are you willing to strike if that’s what it takes to defend public education from more Conservative cuts?
Ford’s government is betting the answer is no. They’re betting you’re too tired, too stretched, and too busy to fight for smaller class sizes, real workplace protections, and a better education for the future generations.
The number that comes out of this vote tells them if we’re willing to prove them wrong.
What a strike vote is
It’s a vote on whether you’re prepared to take job action if bargaining breaks down. It is not a vote to strike. It doesn’t automatically start work-to-rule and it doesn’t set a strike date. It gives your bargaining team the leverage at the table: it is proof that 84,000 of you are behind them.
This is a Provincial strike vote, and is related to central bargaining. Later down the road when ETT is bargaining with the TDSB, we may decide to hold a local strike vote if necessary.
Why vote Yes
The government will see the results. A weak vote tells them they can stall and force through yet another round of cuts, because we won’t do anything about it.
An overwhelming Yes tells them the opposite: and the stronger it is, the better our chances of winning a fair contract at the bargaining table, and not on the picket line.
In other words, voting Yes is how you make a strike less likely, not more. So even if you care deeply about public education but don’t want to strike, voting Yes is in your interest.
So does voting “Yes” mean we’re going on strike?
No. A Yes vote authorizes job action only if it becomes necessary. The strongest mandates are usually the ones that never get used, because the government weighs their options and decides to negotiate instead of testing us.
What is a good Strike Vote outcome?
A strong strike vote is two things: the highest possible Yes vote + the highest possible participation. We’re aiming high for both.
Do these three things this week
- Find your ETFO ID. (don’t know it? Ask memberrecords@etfo.org)
- Confirm ETFO has your current contact info.
- Talk to your coworkers. Make sure they know the vote is coming, and why we should all be voting Yes.
Questions? ETFO is holding virtual town halls on November 9 and 10. More details soon.