The Prince George arm of the B.C. Teachers' Federation wants its members to vote for a full-scale strike.
"We feel we need to give a strong yes vote [to send a message] to this government," said Tina Cousins, the president of the Prince George and District Teachers' Association. "We need to exert more pressure on the bargaining table."
The federation's executive decided Tuesday evening to hold the vote. For School District 57 teachers, they'll be able to vote in advance today or vote at the school they work in Monday or Tuesday. If the vote is affirmative, the strike could begin as soon as Monday, June 16.
Peter Fassbender, the education minister, expressed disappointment with the plans to expand the job action.
"Our goal remains a lasting, negotiated settlement that ends the disruption for parents, students and teachers and puts the system on a path to stability before the start of the next school year," he said in a media release. "Teachers deserve a raise but the parties are very far apart on wages and benefits."
The province is offering an increase of 7.3 per cent over six years, while the federation wants an increase of 12 per cent over four years. The teachers' union recently cut one per cent from its demands. Both sides expressed a desire to have a deal by the end of the month.
"A full strike is only going to keep more students out of their classrooms and create more disruption for parents, while teachers and support workers caught in the middle will lose even more in wages," Fassbender said.
Cousins said the teachers here feel they have no other option but to continue job action.
"Teachers are not generally a group of people who like to have to take action, but we are at the point that we need to," she said. "Our members are standing strong on the picket lines because they know we are in a fight for public education."
In the middle of the dispute is School District 57. Tim Bennett, the school board's vice chair, said it has little say in the negotiations.
"Right now, all of the negotiations are [done] by the provincial government," he said. "School boards used to have a say through a [representative] council at B.C. Public School Employers' Association; however, last year the provincial government removed the board of directors from BCPSEA and appointed a public administrator."
At its last meeting May 27, the board voted to send a letter asking to have that council restored. Bennett said the board hasn't been consulted in the negotiations.
As for the federation's plans for a full-scale strike, Bennett said the board hasn't met to discuss or make plans for the situation.
"We have said before that we value our employees' rights and we hope that a negotiated, fully-funded settlement can happen as soon as possible," he said.
On Wednesday, the Labour Relations Board ruled that the province's limited lockouts and 10 per cent cut of teachers' wages during their job action was legal.
"We're disappointed about the [board's] ruling," Cousins said. "We feel that our employer's has been punitive and aggressive towards us, and we were hopeful for a different ruling."
Cousins also acknowledge the disruption the job action has wreaked.
"I know that there are parents and the public that are disappointed about us having to cancel our year-end field trips," she said. "This situation is bigger than any field trip. This situation is a 12 year battle with the provincial government about public education."
The rotating strikes currently being held across the province will continue next week, with School District 57 schools being picketed on Friday, June 13.
