Teachers will vote this week on whether they are in favour of escalating the “teach only” job action to a full-scale walkout.
The vote, which takes place today and tomorrow (Feb. 28-29) with results released Thursday, comes on the heels of Education Minister George Abbott’s announcement last week he intends to introduce legislation this week to end the dispute with public school teachers.
That decision came after a report from Trevor Hughes, assistant deputy minister for industrial relations, stated it is unlikely the B.C. Teachers’ Federation and the B.C. Public School Employers’ Association will come to a negotiated settlement.
The two sides have bargained for almost a year. Teachers’ contracts expired last June.
The Hughes report lists the province’s “net-zero” mandate as one of the major stumbling obstacles to a voluntary settlement.
Derek DeGear, president of the Nanaimo District Teachers’ Association, said the vote is so the union can send a strong message to the province prior to a legislated contract, if government chooses to go that route.
“It gives us the ability to react to the legislation,” he said, adding that it could be several days between when the legislation is introduced and approved.
The BCTF is calling for alternatives to an imposed contract, such as mediation or arbitration.
DeGear said a strong “yes” vote in favour of escalating job action could help the push for a mediated resolution.
The BCTF has applied to the Labour Relations Board under the essential services order to set the parameters for the next phase of legal job action.
Teachers began limited job action in September, which consists of refusing to do certain supervisory and administrative duties.
DeGear said if the province does legislate a contract for teachers, the union would have to go back to members to see if they are willing to participate in illegal job action.
Nanaimo teachers participated in a province-wide day of action on Monday, which included union meetings during the lunch hour at every school and a rally along Bowen Road outside Beban Park after school.
Trustee TerryLynn Saunders said the B.C. School Trustees Association provincial council passed a motion last weekend urging the province to support a mediated approach to resolve the bargaining impasse, as opposed to legislating a contract.
BCPSEA also published a letter on its website stating that it is prepared to work with a mediator if the LRB believes mediation would be of assistance.
Education Minister George Abbott said in an e-mailed response that the province is considering mediation in its response to resolve this dispute.
“As with every other public sector union that has reached an agreement, any mediated settlement would need to be within the net zero mandate,” he said. “It’s clear a prolonged strike is not in the best interests of students and their parents. Government has an obligation to bring a responsible conclusion to this dispute and will be bringing forward legislation this week to provide everyone with certainty. However, the NDP opposition’s response to this legislation will determine how much certainty is possible in the days ahead.”
