It seemed ludicrous at first, but with every passing day the notion gains a little more credibility.
When teachers and the provincial government failed to reach an agreement by the end of June, which had been a stated goal for both sides, rumblings soon began that the dispute could drag into the next school year.
I didn't give the thought much credence, but as we approach the middle of July, that talk grows louder.
I still find it hard to believe this will happen, but now that the school year has come and gone, taking with it that deadline pressure many negotiations require in order to reach a deal, an extended work stoppage looms as a possibility.
Rather than taking their foot off the pedal because it's summertime, shouldn't it be a case of utilizing the next two months, a time when few are impacted save for summer school and some other programs, to hammer out a settlement? I recognize there's still bargaining activity taking place, but from the outside looking in it appears to lack the intensity needed to result in an agreement. It's also led to the growing sentiment that the dispute could drag on.
It was just last month that the teachers' strike disrupted the lives of a great many British Columbians, to say nothing of the lost opportunities in the classroom and of the extra-curricular variety, so that unwelcome situation should be fresh in everyone's minds. Going through that all over again come September is hard to fathom.
Should that come to pass, I suspect the public won't necessarily pick sides, but will be angry with both parties for not being able to find common ground. It might have been considered unfortunate that more than a year's worth of negotiations couldn't prevent job action, but that won't cut it moving forward.
There's time available now to get a deal done so don't squander the opportunity to do so while the education system is on hiatus and the impacts are minimal. Perhaps that's a naïve way to look at the situation and it will take the proverbial gun being held to someone's head to see a resolution.
If that's the case, then consider the clock already ticking. It's just over seven weeks until classes are scheduled to begin for a new school year, and while that might seem like a long way off, it will be here soon enough.
And when it does arrive, the public expects classrooms will be open for business as usual.
After all, there's plenty of time to ensure that happens.
