'Difficult to say' how long teachers' strike will last: prez

“I am kind of concerned that the board's position on most of our proposals have been so abruptly negative that gives me cause for concern with regard to the length of time. But I really couldn't tell you how long.”

Rainbow District School Board chair Doreen Dewar also said she has no guesses on the duration of the labour dispute. “The shorter the better,” she said.

A strike by OSSTF members who work for the Durham District School Board is already more than a week old, and picket lines are set to go up in the Peel region May 4 if a deal isn't reached there.

Meanwhile, Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario (ETFO) members will be in a legal strike position May 10, and Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association members have given their union a strike mandate.

Talks between Rainbow board high school teachers and the school board last week failed, even with the help of a mediator.

The two sides were discussing local issues such as teachers' professional autonomy, grievance procedures and job postings.

While school boards attempt to negotiate local contracts, there's also provincial-level negotiations on items such as salaries and benefits. Ontario teachers' contracts expired Aug. 31, 2014.

Clyke said the next confirmed bargaining dates with the Rainbow board are in mid-May. While he said he'd like to get back to the bargaining table as soon as possible, he's not optimistic.

“There really is not much hope that would happen now unless the board changes their position,” he said, speaking to NorthernLife.ca at a picket line at Lasalle Secondary School on Monday.

Dewar said the board has always said it's ready to negotiate, but the OSSTF chose to walk away from the bargaining table on the weekend.

“It's up to OSSTF,” she said. “They are the ones that decided that the talks were at an impasse. They're the ones that decided not to negotiate and they decided to walk away.”

Clyke said it's “very concerning” to him that the school year is being disrupted.

“Obviously there's consternation among parents,” he said. “But when we're fighting for teachers' working conditions, it directly translates into student learning conditions.”

A press release from the Rainbow board advised students and parents/guardians that, as of April 27 all Rainbow secondary schools will be closed to students, including Barrydowne College and the Adult Day School.

Buses for secondary students will not operate. Buses will continue their routes for elementary students only. Dual credits will continue at Cambrian College.

Programs for grade 7 and 8 students at Chelmsford Valley District Composite School will continue at Chelmsford Public School.

Programs for grade 7 and 8 students at Lively District Secondary School will continue at Walden Public School. Community use of schools, in the evenings and on weekends, will proceed as scheduled.

Students and parents/guardians are reminded to visit the board website, www.rainbowschools.ca, for updates.