By Gagandeep Ghuman
Published: Feb. 29, 2012
Squamish teachers will rally at the adventure centre, and then march to the school board office after school as part of the day of action on Monday, Feb.27.
The teachers will also take part in a lunch time Sea to Sky Teachers Association (SSTA) meeting, with a video from British Columbia Teachers Federation(BCTF) president Susan Lambert.
As many as 40,000 teachers across B.C. will hold the day of action on Monday to consider and protest the provincial government’s plan to legislate an end to the job action.
The provincial day of action on Monday will not affect students, BCTF President Susan Lambert said.
Speaking to CBC, Lambert said the day of action won’t disrupt classes, although teachers are being urged to work from bell to bell, to hold meetings during lunch breaks, and to gather after school to express their displeasure.
Negotiations between teachers and the B.C. Public School Employers Association have fallen on a dead end and the day of action on Monday would provide a more visible reminder of the strike.
Since September, teachers have been on a strike, refusing to do administrative duties including not completing report cards.
The plan for a day of action comes after Education Minister George Abbott announced on Thursday that legislation to halt the teachers strike should be discussed in the legislature next week.
BCTF President Susan Lambert said the federation representing B.C.’s 40,000 teachers was urging the B.C. School Employers Association to accept mediation as a fair alternative to an imposed contract.
“This government has a choice,” Lambert said. “It can help find the compromises necessary to reach a settlement, or it can use bullying legislation that will only make matters worse.”
That announcement followed the release of a government appointed fact finder’s report said there was little chance of a negotiated deal between the teachers and their employer.
