A week until classes supposed to resume, rotating pickets begin again at BC schools
Posted August 25, 2014 10:25 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – With just one week to go until class is supposed to resume at public schools across the province, the BC Teachers’ Federation has launched a plan to turn up the heat on the government to get a deal done.
After weeks without any picket lines, teachers in Vancouver, Langley and Kamloops are picking up their placards again today.
One woman with kids in a Vancouver school says she’s frustrated; she tells us because of the uncertainty, she hasn’t been doing anything to get prepared for the year. “I’m expecting [the dispute] is not going to be resolved by next week… I know it’s going to be bad.”
Jose has kids in the system; he says he’s preparing like they’re going to be out for another month. “We’re planning with some friends, neighbours, some kind of like homeschooling, temporary mechanism, something that keeps them busy.”
But he’d like parents to hear more from the two sides “and maybe it would be great to have like an update — daily update — [on what] are they doing, just provide visibility to parents.”
He’s hopeful a deal will be reached, but thinks it may not happen until October.
BCTF President Jim Iker told a union meeting in Kamloops over the weekend that he wants Victoria to agree to begin mediation today.
The government has said it’s prepared to be at the bargaining table 24/7 to reach a deal before the September 2nd scheduled start date, and the union has said it’s been ready to negotiate all summer.
But Iker claims the province has been unwilling to enter into full-scale mediation.
Veteran mediator Vince Ready has agreed to step in and work with the two sides, but only once they’re closer together.
Rotating pickets are set to be up throughout the week.
