The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) says more than 80 per cent of its 55,000 worker members voted, supporting the bargaining teams demands and giving a strike mandate.
CUPE has bargaining dates planned with the provincial government on Thursday and Friday.
Bargaining for a pay increase has been ongoing for months with the government offering a two per cent raise for workers who make less than $40,000 and 1.25 per cent for all others as CUPE looks for a 11.7 per cent increase.