Striking teachers won't be on the job Monday and classes are cancelled for public school students across the province.
But for parents unable to arrange day care for their children, schools will be open all three days of the walkout, staffed by sch ool
administrators.
Although the B.C. Labour Relations Board granted the province's 41,000 teachers the right to a legal strike for as many as three consecutive days in the first week and one day in each of the following weeks, teachers are not allowed to set up picket lines.
Education Minister George Abbott, in a conference call Thursday morning, is advising parents who work during the day to make alternate arrangements for the care of their children during the strike, but said schools will still be able to provide that care. "Schools will be open next week, staffed by principals, vice-principals and non-union staff, and we expect, because of the no-picket order, unionized CUPE and, in some cases BCGEU, staff will be there," said Abbott.
"We also expect the school-based daycares to be open, but there obviously will not be the instruction which we normally associate with schools. We're not encouraging parents to take their children to school, but, if there is no other option, parents can be confident that their kids will be cared for and safe in schools."
The B.C. Teachers' Federation voted 87 per cent in favour of a full-scale walkout and strike notice was served Thursday morning, giving two full school days notice, as required by the B.C. Labour Relations Board.
BCTF president Susan Lambert said in a morning news conference teachers have in their job action tried to limit the impact on students, but are left with no choice but to walk off the job to protest their dissatisfaction with Bill 22, the Education Advancement Act.
"Teachers take this step very reluctantly," said Lambert. "We articulated our objectives as clearly and respectfully as we could, but unfortunately we were pleading to deaf ears. The bill tabled on Tuesday was a sign of the appalling disrespect for the profession of teaching, for students, and for public
education in B.C."
In the legislature Thursday afternoon, Abbott opened Bill 22 for second reading and debate. The legislation extends the teachers' expired contract through June 30, 2013, and could become law by next week. Abbott said an independent mediator not directed by government will be appointed to oversee talks between the two sides, designed to produce a new collective settlement by the end of August.
The walkout vote drew 75 per cent of BCTF members. Of the 32,209 teachers who voted, 27,946 elected to escalate their job action.
The teachers' union does not release voting figures by district, but Prince George District Teacher Federation president Matt Pearce said the percentage of local teachers in favour of a full-scale strike was the highest ever recorded by the PGDTA.
"They've never been this angry; Bill 22 is unbelievable in its scope, [and] it's incredible how mad people are about the government doing this and pretending like it's something else," said Pearce.
An Ipsos Reid public poll released Wednesday found 37 per cent of respondents agreed teachers have been fair and reasonable in their bargaining stance, while 30 per cent were on side with the government, and 33 per cent chose neither side. A total of 62 per cent of respondents were opposed to a
full-scale strike.
"If people are informed, I would hope they are [in support of teachers]," Pearce said. "Don't believe what I say, don't believe what George Abbott is saying. Go and have a read of Bill 22 [on the government website www.gov.bc.ca] and see if you believe that's an education improvement act, or see if you believe it's a contract strip and an education destruction act.
"Once you read it, I think you'll understand how deceptive government is being and how much damage that's going to do to classrooms starting this September."
