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STRIKE SALVO — The Premier has fired a shot across the bow to education workers who voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action, should contract talks with the province break down: “Don’t force my hand.”

Pressed on whether he would use legislation to force CUPE’s school support staff back to work, should they take job action, DOUG FORD said he’s “a strong believer in negotiating” but “to the unions, the teachers’ unions: please don’t go on strike.”

Ford, who was speaking at an unrelated presser, maintained that was not a threat to the 96.5 per cent of early childhood educators, librarians, custodians, secretaries and more who are willing to walk off the job.

But LAURA WALTON, president of the CUPE’s Ontario School Boards Council of Unions, said their proposals were “reasonable, necessary and affordable,” and could be green-lit by the Premier today.

“If he does that, the lowest paid education workers who are paid on average only $39,000 a year won’t have to strike t…