THUNDER BAY, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Sept. 25, 2012) - All four Bargaining Units of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF/FEESO) in District 6A, Thunder Bay, have voted 85% in favor of a strike mandate at a meeting held on September 20, 2012.

These members include Student Support Professionals in the local Catholic school board, as well as Teachers, Educational Assistants and Early Childhood Educators that work in the local public school board.

The contract between OSSTF/FEESO and the school board expired on August 31st, and taking of strike vote is a normal part of the legal process recognized by the Ontario Labour Relations Act.

OSSTF/FEESO Provincial Executive Officer Cindy Dubué stated, "This vote sends a strong message that the members support the Federation and want to reach a negotiated agreement with their respective local school boards. It is not about wanting to strike. It is about using our rights recognized by law to bargain a collective agreement with the employer."

OSSTF/FEESO, founded in 1919, has 60,000 members across Ontario. They include public high school teachers, occasional teachers, educational assistants, continuing education teachers and instructors, early childhood educators, psychologists, secretaries, speech-language pathologists, social workers, plant support personnel, university support staff, and many others in education.