Video from the press conference below:
Teachers across the province approved full-scale strike action Tuesday night.
According to the BC Teachers’ Federation, teachers voted 86 per cent to escalate their ongoing dispute with the province on a day that saw protest rallies, schools shuffling events, and British Columbia’s premier urging each side in the labour dispute to “work a little bit harder.”
In a news conference Tuesday night, Jim Iker said 28,809 teachers voted in favour of full-scale strike action.
“B.C. teachers, our proud BCTF members, have shown an unwavering commitment to their students, their schools and to public education in British Columbia,” said Iker, who added 33,387 teachers cast ballots.
“This is one of the highest turnouts we’ve ever had... We want a deal.”
The union is obligated to give three days’ notice before teachers walk off the job, meaning a notice issued early today could result in a strike beginning Monday.
Iker said the union is still discussing if and when they will be giving three-days’ notice.
Rotating strike action is set to put Prince George teachers back on the picket line and close area schools Friday.
The results came after the BC Teachers’ Federation urged more than 40,000 members to support a walkout.
Despite more than a year of negotiations, the union told public school teachers that the government’s position was firmly entrenched so maximum pressure had to be applied to get a deal at the bargaining table.
On Tuesday afternoon, Premier Christy Clark said it wasn’t yet impossible to reach a settlement.
“It’s well within the realm,” she told reporters hours before the vote tally was to be revealed. “If there’s a will, there’s a way. And there’s certainly a will on my part and on the government’s part.”
At the same time, teachers in Vancouver were holding a rally outside the offices of the government’s bargaining agent, the BC Public School Employers’ Association. They said public education has eroded over a decade under the Liberal government.
“This is hugely frustrating and deeply troubling for teachers that we have to do this and take this stand which impacts our students and parents,” said Gerry Kent, president of the Vancouver Elementary School Teachers’ Association.
But “short-term pain” was necessary to protect the quality of education, he said.
Some teachers were already asking how they could get financial help as they prepared to go for an extended period without pay, Kent said.
In the event of a walkout, the association expected requests for assistance to rise, he said.
“Is it going to be a hardship on teachers? Absolutely.”
A rally was also held in Victoria earlier Tuesday.
The government has applied for a Labour Relations Board hearing to get permission to compel teachers to mark critical exams for senior secondary school students.
No date has been set.
