NEPEAN, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Oct. 1, 2012) - Members of the four support staff bargaining units of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF/FEESO) District 25, Ottawa-Carleton, have voted in favour of a strike mandate.

The members of all four units are employed with the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board.

The members of the Plant Support Staff Unit voted 95% in favour of a strike mandate.

The members of the Educational Support Professionals Unit voted 82% in favour of a strike mandate.

The members of the Student Support Professionals Unit voted 94% in favour of a strike mandate.

The members of the Professional Student Services Personnel Unit voted 90% in favour of a strike mandate.

This strike vote is a normal part of the legal process recognized by the Ontario Labour Relations Act. The contracts of all four support staff bargaining units expired on August 31.

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.