Talks in BC teachers' strike resume with less than a month before new term begins
By Nelson Daily Staff
The on-again, off-again negotiations in the teacher’s strike are, on-again, for now.
The provincial government said the resumption of bargaining Friday will resume with the B.C. Teachers’ Federation this week.
Both sides in the dispute say not much progress is being made.
The slow progress has forced the B.C. Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils has called an emergency meeting for this Saturday.
The BCCPAC said if the strike does not end before August 25, school would not start on time.
To complicate matters, Finance Minister Mike de Jong announced the government is offering parents of each public school student under the age of 13 years $40 a day if the provincial teachers’ strike is not over by the start of classes in September.
The Finance Minister said the money would come from not having to pay teachers during the strike. The $40 per day idea would cost the government about $12 Million a day.
At the time of the announcement, BCTF president Jim Iker said the program would only prolong the dispute.
