Protest calls on government to get teachers back in class

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VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – A large protest at the Vancouver Art Gallery today saw hundreds demanding the province get kids back into school.

Signs in favour of binding arbitration, shaming the government, and demanding improved class sizes could be seen in every direction.

This mother, Angela, says she fears for her young son’s future. “This is a constitutional right that he should be in school. He should have well-funded schooling, so I understand that there’s an issue of the teachers and their salaries and benefits. There’s also an issue of funding.”

“The quality of education is going down, and my son who is actually a good student, I fear, is going to get left behind because he is not a squeaky wheel,” explains Angela.

She says she knew the dispute would drag on when the government offered parents $40 a day for childcare.

Angela says she’s cautiously optimistic current talks between both sides will result in an agreement.

This teacher, Richard, echoes the frustration.

“I’m really disappointed with the government and it’s inability to go to binding arbitration, or it’s unwillingness to go to binding arbitration. I think they fundamentally want to break the union.”

He says he is somewhat hopeful an agreement will be reached during this round of talks between both sides.

 

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