Teachers Strike Hits Two Month Mark
Teachers gather for a rally outside the school district office in Prince George – photo 250 News
Prince George, B.C. – The BC's teachers strike has hit the two month mark.
It was June 17th the strike shifted from rotating job action to a full scale strike which ultimately ended the school year almost two weeks early.
Prince George & District Teachers Association vice-president Richard Giroday has been teaching for over 25 years and argues this dispute is different from all the others.
"This one is unprecedented. One would have expected this government to legislate us back to work a long time back because this government loves legislation. They've done that in the past and done it repeatedly but they haven't this time and I can only speculate that that's because it would jeopardize their court case against us."
Though he notes the process has been frustrating he does see some light at the end of the tunnel.
"At least both sides are talking again. We can look forward and hope something will come out of these talks. We know Vince Ready is involved if nothing more than to just facilitate at this point. Perhaps facilitate a way forward from the impasse we're at."
Comments
They are still on strike?? I havent seen any picket lines??….oh wait I forgot the strike is only during normal school working hours…It is summer holidays right now.
Easiest strike anyone’s had… Just show up at rallies and forget bout picketing
Maybe they were just hoping to be legislated back to work to avoid a strike? That would be the best deal they could get may have been the thinking.
Instead the Clark government wants them to twist in the wind on strike pay until they collapse and surrender on all fronts. It’s a war from their perspective.
What a bunch of non unionist lol. ..what to hell should they picket. ..there is no one in the schools. ..
This kinda of proves what many have thought all along. The BCTF was completely posturing assuming they would be legislated back. The government called their bluff. Tough luck Mr Giroday…
Funnier would have been a quote admitting same old same old:
“This strike is absolutely the same as always. It doesn’t matter which party is in power, what the economy is doing, when the next election is or anything else relevant. The militant BCTF is, as usual, unable to reach a contract agreement with anyone”
If I was a BCTF member, I’d be furious with my leadership right now.
You hit the nail square on the head, interceptor. The militant wing of the BCTF is holding everyone hostage and re-fighting the last election is getting us nowhere fast. I wish that both sides would take the time to soak their heads, take a breath, count backwards from ten and present themselves as rational players. I won’t be happy with either side if this tomfoolery continues much longer.
Umm, fellas – they are talking and keeping media silence – that is when real discussion happens – when they stop talking to the press and start talking to each other. So just leave it alone and let them get on with it….
Yup, gotta watch out for those militant wings! Hostage takers they are.
They went back to the table once the government announced the $40 per day per child under 13 for child care plan if the strike continued into September.
Vince Ready will sit down with each side and see if they are near a point where mediation is viable.
Teachers are not receiving strike pay. Those teachers who opted for yearly pay are still collecting a cheque and those teachers who opted for ten month pay have already received their yearly pay. Teacher are not hurting financially.
But make sure they get their fertility treatments and $3000 a year in massage benefits.
Yes and the children are the hostages. Dragon finally got one right.
Yeah sure!
@ prov 1 – yes CUPE staff are in schools now – so as far as those at the board office – Business as usual!
@ mooseheart – you’re right. It is summer holidays. Teachers have really been on strike for 2 weeks!
So far pretty short strike by most standards.
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