They’re hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst.
That’s the word from School District No. 73, with less than two weeks until students head back to the classroom and no resolution to the ongoing B.C. Teachers’ Federation contract talks in sight.
“We have to prepare for any scenario for the opening of the school year,” district superintendent Terry Sullivan told KTW. “We have to prepare our principals and prepare the system. We just have to try to anticipate what might happen.”
In June, B.C. teachers voted 90 per cent in favour of job action.
The BCTF is looking for improved wages and benefits, better working conditions, more prep time and the ability to deal with specific issues on a local level.
Talks between union representatives and a bargaining group for the B.C. government resumed on Aug. 23, but no real progress had been reported.
Speaking at the BCTF’s summer conference in Kamloops this week, union president Susan Lambert said she will not accept a deal unless it includes higher wages, better benefits and classroom improvements.
Kamloops-Thompson Teachers’ Association president Jason Karpuk has called a meeting for Sept. 6 to let area teachers know what the job action will entail.
“We’re hopeful. We’re always optimistic. But, the reality is we’re going to inform our members on Sept. 6,” he said.
“We’re going to do things to make management’s life more difficult. Hopefully, it won’t affect students.”
The job action is expected to see teachers continuing to teach as normal, but not perform administrative duties – such as taking part in staff meetings and tabulating attendance figures.
Karpuk said the local teachers he has talked to are all on the same page.
“I’ve heard from teachers that they’re ready to go,” he said.
“There’s questions always about what it might look like, but they’re on board.”
The BCTF has said the job action could turn into a strike if the provincial government legislates an end to the work-to-rule campaign.
Sullivan said SD73 staff are working to ensure the “adult problems” don’t impact students.
