Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board teachers say yes to strike mandate

Teachers at the Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board on Montreal's North Shore have voted overwhelmingly to give their union a strike mandate over stalled contract negotiations with the Quebec government.

Voting wrapped up and the ballots were tallied Tuesday evening, showing 89.3 per cent support for a six-day strike mandate.

In aFacebookpost, theLaurierTeachers' Union thanked its 1,200 members.

"Thank you for such a great turnout over the past 2 nights! 89.3% in favor is a strong strike mandate!!!" the post read.

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Under the mandate, the strike days would not be consecutive.

The resultdoesn't necessarily mean the teachers will go on strike, but it gives the union the optionto do so if talks with the government continue to stall.

The Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board is the third largest English school board in the province. It represents 40 educational institutions in the regions of Laval, Lanaudire and the Laurentians.

Earlier this month, teachers at bothRiverside and New Frontiers school boards voted 86 per cent in favour of a strike mandate.

On Monday, teachers atJohn Abbott College also voted yes, with 89 per cent support.

Two more English boards are scheduled to follow hold votes in the coming days.

Several French-language school boards have voted in favour of two strike daysone on Sept. 30, and the other on varying dates in October, depending on the school board.

Dates of strike votes for Montreal-area English schools

• Lester B. Pearson: Sept.24
• EMSB: Sept.24
• Vanier College:Sept. 25
• Dawson College:Sept. 28-29