The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario says 97 per cent of its teacher members voted in favour of the three-year deal.

The president of the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario said Monday that if contract deals aren't reached by March 6, they will begin a new phase of strikes effective Monday, March 9.

Elementary teachers hit the picket lines today in several boards, largely in eastern and northern Ontario and including Ottawa, as part of their rotating strikes.

After resuming contract talks on Wednesday, ETFO and the Ontario government say negotiations broke down Friday evening. The union said it will ramp up strikes next week.

The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario has been staging one-day, rotating strikes since last week, and the union is targeting boards in Durham, Lambton Kent and Algoma on Thursday.

A number of hospital boards will be affected by rotating strikes and a one-day walkout by members of the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario (ETFO) next week.

The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario has announced it will begin once-a-week provincewide walkouts beginning Feb. 6 if contract talks with the government do not resume.

Kindergarten teacher and designated early childhood educator cite research that shows children who participate in full-day kindergarten excel in key areas like math, reading and writing as compared to those who attend half-day.

Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce says the government will give money to parents affected by rotating teachers' strikes, with compensation for child care ranging from $25 to $60 per day of missed school.

Starting Tuesday Dec. 10, elementary teachers in Ontario will be escalating job action by starting phase two of their work-to-rule campaign.