The president of Ontario's public elementary teachers' union is accusing the province of distorting an ongoing contract dispute that has hit a bargaining impasse.

David Clegg told a Hamilton press conference this week that the disagreement has never been about wages, but rather about teacher efforts to close a funding gap between elementary and high school students.

Elementary students receive $711 less than their secondary counterparts, he said, allowing fewer resources for guidance counselors, librarians and arts, science and technology teachers.

The higher funding would reduce the average number of students taught by an elementary teacher to 22 from 25, bringing them in line with high school teachers, he said.

"Salary is not the issue and has never been the issue," Mr. Clegg said. "The real issue is fairness."

Contracts for Ontario's 73,000 public elementary school teachers expired at the end of August.

But talks with the province have broken off and Mr. Clegg said Education Minister Kathleen Wynne is threatening to rescind an existing contract offer if no deal is reached by the end of November.

Already approved by Catholic and French board elementary teachers, the offer provides wage increases of three per cent in each of four years.

Elementary teachers presently earn a top salary of about $84,000 per year.

Mr. Clegg said his union won't return to the provincial bargaining table "under the threat of an ultimatum" and is instead concentrating on negotiating local issues.

A meeting with Hamilton board officials was set to take place this week.

Asked how teachers hope to gain public sympathy given the wage offer and pay scales, Mr. Clegg said many people are unaware of the funding gap.

"I think they need to understand that this is not about salary, it's not about benefits, it's about providing an equal resource base so that their children and the future of the province can be given a foundation that's equal and fair," he said.

Mr. Clegg declined to say what teachers will do if the impasse continues.

He said they are willing to sign a deal if the province commits to close of the gap over four years.

"We'll get to December, we'll assess how bargaining has gone on a local basis and we'll look at where the provincial government stands," Mr. Clegg said.

"At that point, well assess our options and go from there. But I'm not going to leap to the conclusion that this government is unable or unwilling to find a solution."