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TORONTO — Public elementary school teachers in Ontario are set to vote on whether to go on strike if their pending contract negotiations with the province don’t go their way, but their union said Wednesday that does not mean classes will imminently grind to a halt.

The Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario said a general strike vote would take place at a series of meetings planned for late September and October, which will double as an opportunity to update its 83,000 members on ongoing contract talks with the province’s Progressive Conservative government.

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Union president Sam Hammond said ETFO hopes to reach a new collective bargaining agreement without a work disruption, and holding a strike vote now is not a sign that teachers are planning to head for the picket lines.

But he said a strike mandate would both save time if talks hit hurdles down the road and offer extra leverage during the negotiations.