Kamloops teachers to strike May 28 as part of BCTF’s rotating job action in contract dispute

NEWS — B.C.’s teachers will begin rotating strikes next Monday, May 26.

B.C. Teachers Federation president Jim Iker announced today the rotating strikes will continue May 27, 28 and 29, and all school districts will be impacted on one of those days. Schools will be open Friday, May30.

Teachers in Kamloops-Thompson School District will be out Wednesday, May 28,

Iker said if no progress is made in bargaining, the rotating strikes could be extended beyond that.

While Education Minister Peter Fassbender announced last week the demand for a 10-year contract would be reduced to six, and offered a signing bonus, Iker said the rotating strikes are based on what he termed the “unwillingness” of the provincial government and the B.C. Public School Employers’ Association to offer any improvements to class size, class composition and other learning conditions, as well as “unfair” wage demands.

“Last week, teachers were hopeful when they saw the government and BCPSEA put out an olive branch by backing off the unrealistic 10-year term,” said Iker.

“But the next day, hope that this government would start negotiating in good faith faded when the employer announced a series of threats around wage rollbacks, lockouts, and attempts to divide teachers, parents, and students.”

The rotating closures are part of a two-stage strike plan voted on by teachers in March.

Following Iker’s news conference this morning, traffic on the BCTF’s website was so heavy it shut down.