The leader of the teachers’ union has refused to rule out possible illegal strike as their labour dispute drags on.
Despite the fact the Labour Relations Board (LRB) only gave the B.C. Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) a three-day window to walkout of public schools across the province – and once next week – teachers may not be finished.
Speaking to media after meeting teachers outside North Burnaby Secondary School on Tuesday, BCTF president Susan Lambert refused to rule out continued, and illegal, strike action.?“I’m keeping my options open as to what happens on Thursday,” Lambert said. “I know there will be resistance to the continued passing of legislation … what form that will take will be up to the members.”
For now, Lambert said teachers are adhering to the LRB order.
“Our members are rightly upset. Whatever happens on Thursday will be up to the membership but right now it’s a legal strike,” she said.
Thousands of teachers and supporters are expected to march on the Legislature in Victoria Tuesday, and another similar rally is planned for Vancouver Wednesday.
Music teacher Janet Pritchard, from Burnaby’s Westridge elementary, said she’s noticed a “divided” reaction to the strike from the general public.
Although parents have expressed complete support for Pritchard, she feels that many people are largely unaware of the issues and have let misconceptions form their opinion.
“I don’t want to say we don’t deserve a raise, but I think it’s really unfortunate when that becomes the focus of discussion,” Pritchard said. “I heard one person on the radio say ‘if they really care about the issues, who don’t [teachers] take a pay cut?’ We did that 10 years ago to get a cap on class sizes and support for special needs students, and that’s all been taken away. People have forgotten that.”
The Legislature is currently debating Bill 22, which would see the current teacher contract extended for another six months and bring in a government selected mediator in an effort to salvage negotiations, which have been in a stalemate for over a year.
Local news from metronews.ca/vancouver
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