B.C. teachers are set to begin a full strike next week.
(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)
June 12, 2014 - 7:58 AM
FULL STRIKE LAUNCHED
KAMLOOPS — The teachers’ union appears headed to a full strike beginning Tuesday and with a ‘study session’ planned for Monday and a rotating strike day Friday, that means today is potentially the last day of school for many students in Kamloops.
An email was sent to teachers Thursday night and quickly news spread on social media. B.C. Teachers’ Federation President Jim Iker announced Thursday morning teachers will be moving to a full strike beginning Tuesday unless a deal can be reached on the collective agreement before then. Monday will be considered an extension of stage two action with teachers meeting off school property and Iker says he is still hoping an agreement can be met to avoid any 'potential escalation.'
With notice now served, a full strike is set to begin Tuesday and the union plans Monday to be a ‘study day’ without instructional work.
The government has applied to have the marking of exams and completion of report cards for secondary students considered an essential service. The province has said earlier provincial exams will go ahead as planned for secondary students in Grades 10-12. Students in Kindergarten through Grade 9 will not have any school during a full strike.
Teachers began job action in April with reduced administrative and supervisory duties and a month later rotating strikes began. This week marked the third week of rotating strikes and earlier in the week the union took a vote looking for support to move to a full strike if needed. More than 70 per cent of the more than 40,000 B.C. teachers voted and of those, 86 per cent voted in favour of a full strike.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Jennifer Stahn at jstahn@infotelnews.ca or call 250-819-3723. To contact an editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2014