Public high school teachers in Peel, Durham and Halton Region may soon be pondering a strike as their union considers a “full withdrawal of services” by the end of April.

Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation president Paul Elliott announced the possibility Saturday during an annual address to union members in Toronto.

According to a transcript of Elliott’s speech, four other districts — Rainbow and Thunder Bay in the north, Waterloo and Ottawa-Carleton — are also considering a walkout by the end of April “at the very latest.”

There are more than 70 public high schools in Peel, Durham and Halton, where teachers have been without a contract since August. Elementary and Catholic schools are not expected to be affected.

“The clock is ticking, and our patience is wearing thin,” Elliott said, calling the districts the “magnificent seven” and telling the province, “Shame on you.”

“(Unless) we see some real improvements, our members will make good on their commitment to job action.”

​Elliot said the talks between the province and the union, which also represents school support staff, have been fruitless, with parties yet to gather for the “central bargaining date.” That date for support staff is April 8, while the date for teachers is “a bit further along,” Elliott said.

At issue in those talks are improved working conditions and compensation.

Teachers’ pay was frozen under former premier Dalton McGuinty, whose controversial legislation also restricted their collective bargaining rights and strike ability. Teachers held large-scale walkouts in response and halted most extracurricular activities.

McGuinty’s successor, Premier Kathleen Wynne, watered down the legislation and instituted a new bargaining process before last year’s provincial election.

Elliot, however, said the government is still “clinging to the failed dogma of austerity.”

“Everything they have proposed, from the removal of class-size caps to less prep time to more supervision time … erode the professionalism of what we do,” he said.

Elliott did not say in his speech why only those seven boards are being considered for a strike, and did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The Peel District School Board said in a statement it understands a strike would “cause anxiety” for students, parents and staff and that it remains committed to reaching an agreement while “avoiding any disruption.”

The board added it does not know why Peel teachers are considering a strike; it said local bargaining has been progressing well.

Peel board chair Janet McDougald told the Star she is surprised the union would resort to threatening a strike, a move that seems premature.

“Within the negotiation process, there are a number of steps that can be taken and I don’t think the discussions have reached this level,” she said.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

McDougald said the Peel board’s union has applied for conciliation, an alternative dispute resolution process that is a prerequisite to a strike. But that process is a “normal part of the collective bargaining process” and not a prelude to a strike per se, according to the school board.

The Ministry of Education said in a statement that the province “remains focused on achieving a negotiated settlement and keeping the details of the discussions at the central bargaining table‎.”