Teachers strike outside Beairsto Elementary School June 3.
(CHARLOTTE HELSTON / iNFOnews.ca)
June 12, 2014 - 4:24 PM
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Earlier this week teachers voted to move to a full strike if necessary and Thursday morning the teachers' union gave the necessary 72 hours notice.
If an agreement is not reached by the end of the day Monday teachers will begin a full strike Tuesday, June 17. Monday was declared a study session. Teachers won't picket, but will gather offsite as part of phase two action, so some students in the province could begin summer break as early as tomorrow if their district is scheduled for a rotating strike day, Kamloops is designated to strike Friday.
Teachers began job action in April and in May rotating strikes began. This week teachers voted 86 per cent in favour of moving to a full strike. Word got out through social media Wednesday evening the B.C. Teachers' Federation would be giving the necessary 72 hours notice the next morning and it did not take long for people to take to that same social media to voice either support or displeasure for the decision.
"Have many teacher friends - standing in support of them," one person says on Twitter.
Another voiced confusion. "Is my last day of school today? Or Monday? I'm so confused! This strike is messing me up."
To contact a reporter for this story, email Jennifer Stahn at jstahn@infotelnews.ca or call 250-819-3723. To contact an editor, email mjone@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2014