Three Ontario school boards that have been hit by strikes are making a move to have the job actions declared unlawful.

Durham District School Board, Rainbow District School Board in the Sudbury area, and the Peel District School Board, make the request in an application to the Ontario Labour Relations Board.

High school teachers at the three boards have been on strike for weeks – affecting more than 70-thousand students.

But the boards argue that central bargaining issues are involved, not local ones.

The Wynne Liberal government’s new bargaining system separates local and central negotiating units – with issues such as class sizes and money – to be discussed at the provincial table.

The Rainbow District School Board chair Doreen Dewar says there are misconceptions that their board is trying to increase class sizes, limit preparation time and freeze benefits and salaries at the local table – but she says those issues are central ones.