Delta parents have had to be resourceful when it comes to childcare arrangements as the bitter contract battle between government and teachers drags on.
Delta schools were behind the picket lines again Monday in a second week of province-wide rotating strikes, forcing parents to come up with alternatives or miss work. "Teachers in our community, like teachers across B.C., don't take this job action lightly," said Paul Steer, president of the Delta Teachers' Association. "As teachers, we care deeply about our students and we empathize with parents who have to re-work their schedules. Many of us are parents too, and that is one of the reasons we are taking this action."
At Heath Elementary in North Delta Monday, grandparents could be seen watching a cluster of kids playing at the playground.
At the Ladner Leisure Centre, a mom was taking her daughter, as well as the daughter of a friend, swimming. She said she was lucky she didn't have to work Monday, but she knew other parents who had to scramble and weren't too pleased.
At the Delta Sport Development Centre across the parking lot, Rachel Hasebe, accompanied by her dad Don O'Byrne, watched one of her preschool age children take part in a gymnastics class. Also watching was preschool daughter Brielle as well as son Colton, a Grade 3 student who said it was "pretty good" having a day off school.
Hasebe said she was fortunate it was her day off and that having a grandparent came in handy when teachers first hit the picket lines a week ago. A lot of other parents have to resort to grandparents or friends watching their kids, otherwise they'd be forced to miss work, she said.
O'Byrne added the contract impasse and strike affects everyone.
At the water park at Memorial Park, Amy Lambert, a realtor with a flexible work schedule, took the day off to watch her two kids, one of whom is in elementary school. She was accompanied by her mother-in-law, Arlene Lambert, who was there to keep an eye on her daughter's two kids, who were also missing school.
"The kids are having a wonderful time, but it's definitely causing some upheaval amongst the adults for sure. We're lucky to be able to make arrangements," said Arlene Lambert.
Amy Lambert said most parents seem to be in support of the teachers. Also at the water park, Ryan Baggott said he was lucky to have the day off. He was watching not only his sons who were missing school, but several of his friends' kids.
"Tomorrow would have been a big problem. It's up to me to watch this whole tribe because the other parents are working," Baggott said.
He said parents he's talked to about the dispute are supportive of the teachers' position, feeling the wage demands aren't unreasonable.
Having a child who requires extra support for reading, he said he understands teachers' position for more in-class support.
At the picket line outside Delta Secondary Monday, several kids could be seen sitting with their parents, who also happened to be teachers.
