Schools will be behind picket lines again.
The B.C. Teachers Federation will hold a one-day strike in the Vernon School District Wednesday and in the North Okanagan-Shuswap district Thursday.
“B.C. teachers remain committed to negotiating a fair and reasonable deal that provides better support for our students,” said Jim Iker, BCTF president.
“It’s time for Premier Christy Clark to provide the employer with new funding that will help bring the two sides closer together on class size, composition, staffing levels for specialist teachers, and wages.”
The BCTF will hold a vote Monday and Tuesday to authorize full-scale strike action.
“Teachers deserve a raise but the parties are very far apart on wages and benefits. Right now, their total compensation demands are still about four times more than the settlements reached at other tables,” said Education Minister Peter Fassbender.
“The B.C. Public School Employers’ Association has a fair wage offer on the table, one that’s in line with recent agreements covering nearly 116,000 public sector workers. The offer also includes a special $1,200 signing bonus if we reach agreement before the end of June.”
