West Kootenay-Boundary school districts brace for teachers strike
By Nelson Daily Editor
Contract negotiations have stalled and teacher job action looms as students prepare to go back to school on Sept. 6 in BC.
The West Kootenay-Bondary school year is cast in doubt as talks between the BC Teachers’ Federation and the Ministry of Education have stalled, and a collective agreement appears to be at a stalemate, according to the union’s website.
However, school districts like the Kootenay Lake SD8 and others are trying to minimize the effect of job action. On Tuesday, Education Minister George Abbott said he would consider legislating teachers back to work if they go on strike.
Susan Lambert, the president of the BCTF, said taking away the teachers’ right to strike will ultimately hurt students and the education system, since it will impact “the high quality of the public education system.”
Teachers have said if an agreement isn’t reached, they will refuse administrative duties, like filing report cards.
The BCTF is expected to release progress details on contract negotiations today.
