Teachers Vote Results This Evening
Prince George, B.C.- We will know later tonight if teachers in BC are giving their bargaining team some extra muscle at the bargaining table.
Teachers have been voting since Tuesday on whether or not they support strike action to back their contract demands.
There are about 1,000 teachers with School District 57, which covers public schools in Prince George, Mackenzie, McBride and Valemount.
Prince George District Teachers Association President Tina Cousins says she has been hearing concerns from teachers in the region about funding as well as disappointment with the government.
The head of the BC Teachers Federation, Jim Iker says negotiations have turned for the worse since December, and says the government is asking for “unreasonable concessions”. He accuses the government of being “unreasonable, unfair, and provocative.”
The teachers and government have attended 40 bargaining sessions. Iker says the teachers proposed a 3 year deal, while the province is pressing for a ten year deal, a length of contract teachers rejected by 96% in a vote taken last June. “There is nothing on the table right now that we can recommend to our teachers” says Iker.
Negotiators for the teachers and the government return to the bargaining table on Tuesday, and are expected to continue those talks today and tomorrow. Further bargaining has been set for the 11th and 12th.
Comments
I hope there is resounding support for a strike from the membership. The govt have abused their position of power, bargained in bad faith and are still denying what the courts have consistently ruled to be correct. If any other union worked for a company or organization like this we would have been on the picket line already. If we need a general strike across this province in solidarity with the teachers so that BCPSEA and the Govt understand what’s at stake then I’m all for it!
Full support for the teachers from me.
The Govt has had a year to reduce class sizes, and has done nothing.
The same Government that employs and bargains with the teachers shouldn’t have the right to legislate them back to work.
Teachers were legislated back to work last time as they were deemed an essential service and that the economy would suffer if schools were not open. Seriously??? This only serves to tell me that the govt considers schools to be nothing more than glorified day-care centres. If we want better education for our kids than we have to be prepared to suck up the consequences when they exercise their constitutionally guarranteed right to strike! If you can’t find day-care for your kids when this happens than bring the kids out with you to support our teachers!
vincent: “If you can’t find day-care for your kids when this happens than bring the kids out with you to support our teachers!”
Yeah right. It’s not like parents have jobs to do or anything. I’d sure they’d all love to their their workplaces to shove it while they kick stones on the picket line with teachers.
Besides, if you miss this teacher strike, there will be another one sometime soon. You can bank on it.
I wish it honestly would make a difference but this government has nothing but contempt for teachers. the script is always the same:
Strong strike mandate
Predictions of the end of the world by government
Teachers legislated back to work
Teachers need to try something different.
Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
-Albert Einstein
Saruman: “I wish it honestly would make a difference but this government has nothing but contempt for teachers.”
The history of teachers vs. the government goes back much farther than the current government.
ah yes but are not Christy and her marauders the ones under todays microscope if we don’t invest in education we will all wind up like a hutterite colony with a grade 2 education
I am in support of teachers and what I think is needed is no rotating strikes. If bargaining fails they should have a full scale strike all at once and stay out until it is settled. If they are legislated back to work the BCTF could appeal it like the government does and stay out until appeal is heard. Education is not an “essential service”.
@ice: We all want to ‘invest in education’. Unfortunately, all that means is increasing wages and benefits for teachers. Education and the Medical system already take up the majority of the Provincial Budget. I would say we’ve got plenty invested.
My understanding is that Christy wants world class for everything so this would also apply to education. If the government wants to create more jobs hire more teachers and reduce class sizes. Great for the economy!
It would be nice to see the teachers go out on a full blown strike! It would be even nicer if the Government then pulled a Ronald Raegan on them! Would love to see poor Jim Iker crap his panties!!
The BCTF seems incapable of peacefully negotiating a contract with any government! NDP? Liberal?? Doesn’t matter to the BCTF!!
You have my full support teachers. Fight the good fight.
Same here, I like backing winners, teachers all the way. :-)
Hang in there teachers, if there is a strike you will have a lot of support and I will walk the picket line with you. In fact we should shut the whole province down to show this dictatorship of a government the people want their rights back.
If the legislate you back to work, appeal it, if they fine don’t pay it.
Their is an election in November, let’s chose our next school trustees wisely, because they may move up into the next provincial election. 80% of Christy Clarks government is made up of formal school trustees and city coucilers
Any update?
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