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BY TERESA LATCHFORD Staff Writer Contract negotiations need to resume or the Elementary Teachâ€" ers’ Federation of Ontario says it will take action. The federation is accusing local school boards of delaying the bar- gaining process and, in an efl‘ort to get back to the table, is calling on Board ’confident’ it will settle with teachers manna” I WWWGWWFM I 24PAGE$I$1|NCLUD|NGGST [IVE WELL WITH ELEMENTARY FEDERATION THREATENS STRIKE ACTION ACROSS ONTARIO the boards to reply to its concerns by the end of the month or face a possible strike, union president David Clegg said this week “If the boards take the same position as their provincial coun- terparts and include strips to the existing rights of elementary teachers, the federation will have no option but to initiate strike votes," he said, referring to the fi-‘ MIG-D-PPQ VIItIItIIIscoum $5. 00"” . provincial framework that was refused last month by the federa- tion. The federation represents 73,000 public teachers across the province, including those in York Region. Catholic elementary teachâ€" ers have already settled with their boards in September. The York Region District School Board has been negotiating with llV! Will WI!" the local branch of the federation for months, board spokesperson Ross Virgo said. “We feel confident we will reach a settlement," he added. Mr. Virgo would not comment or release details when asked what issues are being discussed, saying the board believes discus- sions shOuld take place at the table. Stouflville Pharmasave‘ 6601 Main St., Stouffville, Ont. L4Aâ€"6A9 4.: d»). I Classified The previous \collective aglee- ments for public school teachers expired Aug. 31. The federation has refused the framework offered by the Ontario Education Ministry because to Mr. Clegg and federation members, it lacks details on improving leaming conditions for students and fairer working conditions for the teach- dealmmudays STAFF PHOTO/SJOERD WITTEVEEN