School will be in session next week, now that the B.C. Teachers' Federation has postponed the possibility of another one-day strike.
Teachers have been refusing to do administrative work since September, but they escalated to a full-scale strike for three days last week, leaving parents scrambling to find alternate arrangements for their kids. The BCTF has to ask the Labour Relations Board for permission to strike because education is considered an essential service in B.C.
There was a possibility that teachers could strike one more day next week, but the vote on that has been postponed.
Meanwhile, the provincial government is in the process of passing Bill 22, legislation that would prohibit teachers from striking and impose hefty fines if they do.
Teachers were going to vote this week on their next move, but union members decided late last night to postpone that vote because the government's Bill 22 hasn't been passed and some districts are going on spring break next week.
According to the BCTF, it appeared that Bill 22 was going to be fast-tracked through the legislature, but now that the Liberals are allowing a full debate, the urgency to vote has lessened.
Teacher delegates will plan their next move at the BCTF's annual general meeting, which runs from March 17 to 20 in Vancouver. All teachers will have to vote on what to do next, which will happen after the meeting.
The ongoing labour dispute started last spring. While the government is sticking to its net-zero mandate, meaning no new money for teachers salaries, the BCTF is asking for a 15 per cent raise over three years and increased benefits. The BCTF estimates the proposal would cost $565 million, while the provincial government's figure is $2 billion. Teachers have been protesting Bill 22, saying it undermines class-size and composition restrictions.
Many school districts around the province will be on spring break next week. In New Westminster, spring break runs from March 17 to 25.
