Elementary teachers with the Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) voted in favour of walking off the job, if contact negotiations with the school board are not successful.

The Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario (ETFO) held a local strike vote at Budweiser Gardens Thursday night where about 3,000 members showed up to cast their vote. The count showed 97 per cent favour of strike action at the local level.

"Our bargaining goal is to negotiate a fair collective agreement that addresses working condition issues through free collective bargaining," said Craig Smith, president of ETFO Thames Valley Teacher Local in a statement.

The union says there are five local bargaining dates set with the TVDSB and that they will continue to keep their members informed about the progress.

Some of the union's bargaining priorities include more support for students with special needs, class sizes and structure, the protection of Full-Day Kindergarten, and fair hiring practices.

The strike vote puts the union in a position for teachers to walk off the job if talks break down at the bargaining table. In previous years, a work-to-rule campaign has been employed before a strike occurred.

The outcome of the central ETFO strike vote is set to be released in early November.

Earlier this week, the union representing teachers from the London District Catholic School Board, announced they will also be holding a strike vote, which is set to be completed by Nov. 13.

Secondary school teachers with the Thames Valley District School Board will hold their strike vote Nov. 7 at the Marconi Club in London.

Earlier this month, CUPE, the union representing some 55,000 education workers, reached a tentative deal that avoided a strike from educational support staff across the province.