Delta schools will once again be behind picket lines on Monday.
The B.C. Teachers Federation on Thursday announced that its series of one-day rotating strikes would continue into next week. The strikes are legal.
Delta schools, which were behind picket lines this Wednesday, are scheduled for closure Monday, June 2.
With contract talks dragging and the war of words escalating, teachers ramped up their job action by undertaking four days of rotating strikes this week. All schools in the province were to open again by this Friday, but next week's continuation of rotating strikes is an indication how things are only getting more heated between the teachers' union and province.
The rotating strikes will occur on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
“BC teachers are committed to negotiating a fair and reasonable settlement at the bargaining table,” said BCTF president Jim Iker. “That agreement, however, needs to include adequate funding to make improvements to important learning conditions, which are teachers’ working conditions. It’s time for Premier Christy Clark to free up the resources that will bring the two sides closer together and ensure students start the next school year with smaller classes, more support for children with special needs, and extra one-on-one time…"
Thanking parents for their understanding and support, Iker said teachers cannot be the only ones expected to compromise at the negotiating table.
In a counter move last week, the B.C. Public School Employers' Association, which bargains on behalf of the provincial government, issued notice of punitive measures if the rotating strikes proceeded, including a "partial lockout" that would see salaries reduced. The lockout also includes teachers being forbidden from working during lunch and recess, and they can only arrive at school 45 minutes before classes start and must leave 45 minutes after classes are done, measures the BCTF says will only hurt students requiring extra help.
Not backing down, teachers went ahead with their strikes.
A full lockout is planned for later next month if a deal isn't reached.
At the picket line at Delta Secondary on Wednesday, teachers said they've been asked not to comment to the media and direct inquiries to the Delta Teachers' Association.
Premier Christy Clark this week said she was hoping a meeting that was scheduled for this Thursday at the Labour Relations Board would jumpstart a resolution.
She said the by BCPSEA and BCTF would meet at the LRB to discuss the lockout provisions.
Disappointed the rotating strikes would continue, Clark also said a broken bargaining system has resulted in several governments having to legislate teachers back to work.
When the lockout plan was announced, DTA president Paul Steer told the Delta Optimist that the premier is the only person who has the power to end the provocation and get a reasonable deal worked out.
"That's my question now: Why fight with teachers when the thing that's most helpful and most necessary is a fair deal for teachers and better support for kids," he said.
Saying the lockout is creating confusion, the BCTF notes it will damage relationships between school districts and the teachers they employ.
The Delta school district this week issued an advisory to parents that classroom teaching will not be affected by BCPSEA lockout, but, as far as extracurricular activities such as fieldtrip and volunteer activities, situations will likely vary by circumstance. The district advised parents to speak directly with their children's teachers regarding specific extracurricular activities and speak directly with school offices about specific ceremonies, such as graduation, and events.
