It's looking like public schools in Delta and throughout the province will be shut down in a fullblown strike as early as next Monday.
Following a Labour Relations Board ruling last week, which backed the employer docking wages for teachers who took part in the recent rotating strikes by 10 per cent, teachers took part in a vote to escalate their job action. The vote took place Monday and Tuesday and saw teachers vote 86 per cent for a full-scale strike.
The government recently announced a deal has been reached with support staff but as far as the teachers, both sides are still far apart on wages, let alone the thorny class size and composition issue.
Saying he'd vote yes to escalating job action, Delta Teachers' Association president Paul Steer noted he was expecting a positive vote to be announced yesterday evening.
Teachers have been without a contract since June 2013. Steer said the union began negotiating back in February only to be frustrated by the other side.
"We're reluctant to take this step because all the way along our preference has been to achieve a negotiated settlement at the table. A lot of teachers are feeling frustrated at not being able to bring it to a resolution without going this far, seeking recourse through an escalation vote," he said.
Steer said Delta teachers continue to have a good working relationship with the Delta district, but that can't be said for government or its negotiating arm. The earliest a full walkout can occur in a positive strike vote is Monday, June 16.
The Ministry of Education notes elementary schools would be closed in a full strike and parents with children who need supervision should make arrangements. The ministry notes parents would receive final report cards, but in some cases the reports may be abbreviated.
The strike would impact provincial exams at high schools, but in a counter move the B.C. Public School Employers' Association applied to the LRB to designate grades 10 to 12 exams as an essential service.
Meanwhile, the rotating strikes continue for a third straight week with Delta schools to be behind picket lines tomorrow.
A notice by superintendent Diane Turner reminds parents that while school buildings will be open, only principals and viceprincipals will be in the buildings. Since staff will
not be available to provide supervision or instruction, parents are asked make alternative childcare arrangements for Thursday.
Strong Start Centres will also be closed.
If a deal isn't reached, it remains to be seen if teachers will once again be legislated back to work in time for the new school year in September.
