The strike that comes in stages
NEWS/ SCHOOLS — Kamloops-Thompson teachers will be on the picket lines for the third time today (Friday) in an ever-more confrontational and confusing labour dispute.
Kamloops teachers will be in Stage 2 today. (Armchair Mayor News file photo)
Here’s a summary of what’s going on:
Today (Friday), teachers in the Kamloops-Thompson School District and several other districts in B.C. are on a rotating strike as part of their “Stage 2” job action in support of their bargaining demands. Those demands include, says the B.C. Teachers Federation, “improvements to class size, class composition, and staffing levels for specialist teachers to increase one-on-one time for students. In addition to improvements to student learning conditions a fair deal must also include a fair wage increase for teachers.”
Monday (June 16), teachers continue Stage 2 (Stage 1 involved withdrawing from certain duties) job action but with a variation on rotating strikes. Instead of picketing schools, teachers will gather at a neutral location for “study sessions” to review progress and discuss their situation. There will be no classes but the front doors of SD73 schools will be open so students can collect their personal effects, since the school year is about to expire. In the case of younger students, parents can access the schools to do it for them.
Tuesday (June 17), all teachers in the province begin a full-scale strike (Stage 3), meaning all of them will be off the job and on the picket lines at all schools until further notice.
Provincial exams have been declared an essential service. Administration staff will do the brunt of supervising, with teachers doing the rest. A designated door to schools in which students are writing exams will not be picketed so those involved don’t have to cross picket lines.
Exams for various grades and courses run from June 16 to June 26. Below is the schedule set by the Ministry of Education.
Schedule for provincial exams (Revised June 1)
June 16-20 (Monday-Friday), June 23-26 (Monday-Thursday)
Apprenticeship and Workplace Mathematics 10 Foundations of Mathematics and Pre-Calculus 10 (Schools may schedule these sessions at any time after June 16.)
June 18 (Wednesday)
Science 10 (only for schools that require an early session)
Apprenticeship and Workplace Mathematics 10 Foundations of Mathematics
Pre-Calculus 10
June 19 (Thursday)
B.C. First Nations Studies 12
June 20 (Friday)
English 12
English 10 First Peoples
Communications 12
Français langue première 10
June 23 (Monday)
Français langue seconde-immersion 12
Français langue première 12
Science 10
Civic Studies 11
June 24 (Tuesday)
English 12 First Peoples
English 10
Social Studies 11
ArmchairMayor.ca 
Mr. R,
My prediction is that the Liberals come to the table and hammer out a deal with the BCTF after 16 months of bargaining.
The Teachers study the offer and vote on Monday, and school is back in session on Tuesday.
Parents, do not take off with your kids just yet please!
We are going to get it done this weekend! The public pressure is just too great to fail.
If there is no agreement by Monday, then parents, there will not be any school until September for grades K – 9,
sorry.
By Septmber, the B.C Supreme Court will have ruled on the Liberals appeal regarding class size and composition. This final decision by the Courts will clarify the issues for the two parties – one can only hope?
Monday we will have a new contract and agreement. The Liberals do not want to wait for appeal decision by the B.C Supreme Court. The Government has lost two twice already on class size and composition, they have to negotiate a new agreement. The Liberals are too smart to risk this outcome! Expect a new agreement by Monday :)
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