With a legislated contract looming over them, teachers are expected to decide on their next step this week.
B.C. Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) president Susan Lambert said its members will vote Tuesday and Wednesday on “the widest variety of options” after education minister George Abbott announced last week his office is drafting legislation to end the year-long teacher’s dispute.
The result of the votes will be released Thursday morning.
“It will be up to our members,” said Lambert, who last week wouldn’t rule out the possibility of strike action. “It’s a very important week. We find ourselves at a critical part of the bargaining process.”
Instead of having a contract imposed on them, the BCTF is hoping a mediator can be called in to salvage talks.
On Monday, teachers have planned a day of action where they will only show up to work from “bell to bell,” hold union meetings during the lunch hour and congregate in many communities to demonstrate after school.
The day of action had been planned before Abbott said the government would seek a legislated solution to the dispute, but Lambert said the tone will now be significantly different.
Any legislated contract will only aggravate teachers more, she said.
Local news from metronews.ca/vancouver
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