North Okanagan teachers may limit their administrative duties if a new contract can’t be reached.
Ninety per cent of teachers voted yes in a provincewide strike vote recently. If a collective agreement cannot be reached by the beginning of September, they warn they will take job action.
“We deserve to work and to be treated with the same respect which is given to other teachers across Canada,” said Bruce Cummings, president of the Vernon Teachers’ Association.
Contract issues include wages and benefits, restoration of local bargaining rights and teaching conditions.
Cummings reassures parents that teachers will maintain a full commitment to students, but will stop doing administrative tasks.
“This vote is a rejection of more erosion to their learning conditions as much as it is affirming our working conditions,” he said.
“The initial job action is designed to put pressure on the employer and the government, but to maintain regular classroom instruction for students and ongoing communication with parents.”
If job action proceeds, teachers will not:
n undertake any mandated supervision of students outside of regularly scheduled classes
n attend any meetings with management
n submit student attendance information to administration, including any electronic formats
n provide administrative officers with any routine printed, written or electronic communications
n engage in mandated reporting
n administer or mark any mandated or employer initiated assessment
Cummings said extra-curricular activities are voluntary and would not be affected by job action.
