Kamloops-Thompson school teachers will be back on picket lines next Thursday, June 5

NEWS/ SCHOOLS — As Kamloops teachers wound up their one-day strike today (Wednesday) at 4 p.m., they went home to the news that they’ll be doing it all over again next week unless significant progress is made in contract talks before then.

After failing to resolve their issues, the two sides remain at loggerheads, and teachers will continue their strikes next Monday through Friday. The Kamloops-Thompson School District is on the strike schedule for Thursday, June 5.

A full schedule is published below.

B.C. Teachers Federation president Jim Iker said after another day of bargaining today the provincial government is still refusing to put enough on the table to reach a deal on class size, composition, staffing levels and salaries.

Next week’s strikes will be on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. This week’s round concludes today.

“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.

“We also expect the government to be flexible on their wage demands and show some good faith and willingness to move.” He said teachers are willing to compromise “but we cannot be the only ones expected to move.”

Iker said public reaction on the teachers’ picket lines has been “fantastic.”

Rotating Strike schedule June 2–June 6 (no action Wednesday, June 4)

Monday, June 2
#20 – Kootenay-Columbia
#23 – Central Okanagan
#27 – Cariboo-Chilcotin
#35 – Langley
#37 – Delta
#38 – Richmond
#42 – Maple Ridge
#52 – Prince Rupert
#59 – Peace River South
#63 – Saanich
#68 – Nanaimo
#70 – Alberni
#83 – North Okanagan-Shuswap

Tuesday, June 3
#10 – Arrow Lakes
#19 – Revelstoke
#22 – Vernon
#33 – Chilliwack
#36 – Surrey
#41 – Burnaby
#44 – North Vancouver
#45 – West Vancouver
#46 – Sunshine Coast
#57 – Prince George
#58 – Nicola Similkameen
#64 – Gulf Islands
#71 – Comox
#79 – Cowichan Valley
#81 – Fort Nelson
Thursday, June 5
#8 – Kootenay Lake
#34 – Abbotsford
#43 – Coquitlam
#47 – Powell River
#50 – Haida Gwaii
#51 – Boundary
#53 – Okanagan Similkameen
#54 – Bulkley Valley
#60 – Peace River North
#61 – Greater Victoria
#69 – Qualicum
#73 – Kamloops Thompson
#84 – Vancouver Island West
#91 – Nechako Lakes
#92 – Nisga’a
Friday, June 6
#5 – Southeast Kootenay
#6 – Rocky Mountain
#28 – Quesnel
#39 – Vancouver
#40 – New Westminster
#48 – Sea to Sky
#49 – Central Coast
#62 – Sooke
#67 – Okanagan Skaha
#72 – Campbell River
#74 – Gold Trail
#75 – Mission
#78 – Fraser-Cascade
#82 – Coast Mountains
#85 – Vancouver Island North
#87 – Stikine