Teachers looking for solutions to ending the ongoing strike

LANGLEY (NEWS1130) – Why is the teacher’s strike so long? That was one of many questions discussed at a meeting held in Langley put on by the Langley Teachers’ Association. As part of the dialogue there was a panel of experts including a representative from the BC Federation of Labour, one from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, the BCTF, and NDP MLA David Eby.

Many of the folks taking part included teachers, former teachers, parents and people with an interest in public education.

Margo, a special education teacher, says she is fed up with the month long strike. Her solution is the creation of a separate body to intervene. “It’s almost like an Israeli versus Palestinian Association kind of conflict. Everybody is throwing rockets at each other and there is no resolution. I think there has to be a better way of bargaining. There needs to be a third party, a board of participants, stakeholders, trustees, teachers, parents. They have to come together and have a better model for the future,” she explains.

Another frustrated teacher questions whether school trustees should step in. “People are elected and their mandate as trustees, as school boards, is to protect and advocate for public education. Their role is that their generally neutral or that there are not taking an active stand. It goes beyond just bargaining for teachers. It’s about advocating for what students need,” says Leah.

One teacher suggested rallies over picketing school board offices in order to improve the public’s perception. Others feel taxpayers and municipal governments should be included in bargaining discussions to speed things up and get kids back in the classrooms.

The Langley Teachers’ Association says it’s possible the BC Teachers’ Federation and the provincial government will resume talks with a mediator in August.

The LTA invited Education Minister Peter Fassbender and the two local Liberal MLAs, but they all said they were unable to attend.