The BC Teachers Strike

closeyoureyes · Post by **closeyoureyes** » 10/13/2005, 2:57 pm

Ok.

So, in BC as many of you probably know, our teachers are on strike, illegally. They have been legislated a new completely government only negotiated contract, this is the 10th year of legislated contracts. They were deemed an essential service in BC in 2001(Oh yeah, you're really sending your kids to school in a fucking earthquake). Anyways, they've been on strike since last Friday. This is going to be long, and drawn out. Its already been almost 7 days.

Anyways, the BC Supreme court just ruled that they will not fine the BCTF, instead, they've deemed teachers on strike are not allowed to recieve strike pay out of their union, essentially leaving 42,000 teachers without any funds.

They will not return to work until they are given a new fully negotiated contract, instead of the one now. Inflation rises at over 2% a year, whereas their wage has increased 0.00% in the past 10 years. The Government, however, has decided they have a new contract(Since they enforced their own), and says there is nothing to talk about.

This new ruling is just another kick in the trousers for the people who are grooming the next generation of people in society.

News Links:
http://www.canada.com/news/national/sto ... 42ff134793
http://www.canada.com/national/national ... 6100a9e25e
http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national ... 51007.html

I am in complete support of the teachers. This is very, very stressing on me, as I have three courses this semester which are provincially examinable. They HAVE to do this, its for not just them but all of us, they want caps on class sizes, something badly needed. Its such a bad situation.

I hate the BC Government.

quietorloud · Post by **quietorloud** » 10/13/2005, 3:11 pm

Yeah, those of us who have provincial exams are so screwed. My teachers told me it's highly unlikely that the exams will get postponed, so whatever we don't have time to cover because of the strike, we have to basically learn ourselves.

On the plus side, I've been using this strike to sleep in everyday.

Random Name · Post by **Random Name** » 10/13/2005, 3:27 pm

Eh.

Publics are overrated. I found them to be easier then the finals that wern't publics.

Besides, its not like this is gonna last 8 months and you'll be thrown an exam. your teachers will catch you up.

closeyoureyes · Post by **closeyoureyes** » 10/13/2005, 3:51 pm

exams are in three months....

Hope · Post by **Hope** » 10/13/2005, 10:12 pm

yah.. you grads are screwed.

/thank god im not in grade 12 this year

closeyoureyes · Post by **closeyoureyes** » 10/13/2005, 10:21 pm

Helpful.

Kaegan · Post by **Kaegan** » 10/13/2005, 11:35 pm

I'm just so pissed off, and people are incredibly ignorant! Just look at what a friend of mine, who isn't even in school any longer, said to me on MSN...

Melissa says:
teachers are bitches
Melissa says:
haha
Melissa says:
you have to go to school in the summer
Melissa says:
my coworkers boy will have to attend to school from 8-5 or something
Melissa says:
that doesnt seem right
Melissa says:
but thats what i hear
Melissa says:
and they go to school in n burnaby
Melissa says:
to make up for lost learning time

The sad thing is that most people think this way. I don't think you can blame anyone can blame a group of people for taking a stand for human rights. I figure 50 bucks a day (the amount teachers were receiving for striking) isn't that much anyway, so they can manage for another week without pay. Perhaps the union can promise them the funds after the 30 days is up.

Kaegan · Post by **Kaegan** » 10/14/2005, 3:03 am

A few friends of mine have started a website. We're gathering people together to have a rally, probably outside of CTV in downtown Vancouver. We're hoping to raise a voice for the students, in support of the teachers who are now virtually gagged by the Supreme Courts. You can check it out at http://sfbe.blogspot.com.

nikki4982 · Post by **nikki4982** » 10/14/2005, 5:54 am

I can't believe an entire provence's teachers are on strike. That's crazy.

Kaegan · Post by **Kaegan** » 10/14/2005, 12:24 pm

PROVINCE Nikki, PROVINCE! *throws stevegasm stickers at you*

Hope · Post by **Hope** » 10/14/2005, 10:24 pm

i can't believe this has been going for a week now.

Sonya · Post by **Sonya** » 10/15/2005, 12:13 am

it's confirmed.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees of BC will be holding massive 'political protests' (also known as a walkout) in support of the BCTF during the next week. this basically means that CUPE'd workplaces (for lack of a better phrase) will be walking out of their jobs for one day, in their specific region. if nothing is agreed upon by next friday, the entire cupe workforce in british columbia will be walking out the following week.

details and a proper explanation to be announced soon.

this is gonna be fucking huge.

Kaegan · Post by **Kaegan** » 10/15/2005, 12:48 am

The student group myself and others have helped form has the potential to be at least 100 strong, and that's only the first wave. With proper media coverage, we will hopefully be able to get students from all over the Vancouver area involved. Again, check out http://sfbe.blogspot.com, especially those of you in BC.

nikki4982 · Post by **nikki4982** » 10/15/2005, 3:14 am

Kaegan wrote:PROVINCE Nikki, PROVINCE! *throws stevegasm stickers at you*

I even spellchecked it. Darn you, spell check. Letting me down. :mad:

happening fish · Post by **happening fish** » 10/15/2005, 3:16 am

Heeee!

Provence is a place in France! Spellcheck PWND JOO.

nikki4982 · Post by **nikki4982** » 10/15/2005, 3:28 am

thirdhour · Post by **thirdhour** » 10/15/2005, 11:23 am

Some students in Vancouver held a protest on Broadway (in support of the teachers, of course) and it seemed pretty strong.

As soon as other unions decide they're going to support the BCTF, there's a chance for a complete walk-out of every unionized person in the province. We were 24 hours away from one last year with the HEU walk-out.

I just realized that my brother goes to a cappernicum school where they take two classes for 10 weeks, instead of a semester system. His provincial exams are in less than a month, I do beleive. His school's going to be among the most screwed in the province.

closeyoureyes · Post by **closeyoureyes** » 10/15/2005, 10:30 pm

I'm off the job if we General Strike. I'm in the UFCW. Some of our members are striking in Alta.

happening fish · Post by **happening fish** » 10/15/2005, 11:14 pm

bc boy doesn't care much
he says they do this every year
and half his family works for the board of education
so therefore, by association, i also claim indifference!

closeyoureyes · Post by **closeyoureyes** » 10/15/2005, 11:22 pm

the teachers have never striked in all the time since i've been in school :GASP: