It’s go time for parents as teachers say no to school.
Starting Monday, teachers across the province will be participating in a three-day strike as their labour dispute with the provincial government continues.
On Thursday, Education Minister George Abbott urged parents to find alternative arrangements for their children.
“We’re disappointed … but respect the union’s right to a legal strike.”
Abbott said non-teaching staff are still expected to work during the strike and schools will be open and “safe” for students whose parents can’t arrange daycare or supervision for their children, despite reports that some school districts may shut down operations altogether during the three days.
After the week, the Labour Relations Board has ruled the B.C. Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) will be able to continue strike action once a week.
Teachers voted 87 per cent in favour of escalated job action earlier this week, after the government introduced Bill 22, which would extend the BCTF’s current contract by six months and establish a mediator to help the two sides come closer to an agreement in the yearlong dispute.
The bill underwent second reading in the legislature Thursday.
University of Victoria historian Dr. Thomas Fleming, author of Worlds Apart, which chronicles the decades-long rift between the BCTF and government, says the dispute is a long-standing game of political chicken.
“In the 1970s, the government dropped the ball in providing leadership on education, and the BCTF filled the void,” said Fleming. “They see themselves as defenders of the public education…. If the government doesn’t give the federation what they ask for, they’re viewed as an enemy of education.”
Local news from metronews.ca/vancouver
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