After a full year of bargaining and more than 40 sessions at the table, BC teachers have called for a strike vote to push back against major concession demands, an unfair salary offer, and a deliberately confrontational attempt to reverse the recent BC Supreme Court decision on class size, composition, and staffing levels, said BCTF President Jim Iker.

“Teachers care deeply about our schools, our students, and our communities. We don’t take a strike vote lightly,” said Iker. “However, this government seems incapable or unwilling to let the BC Public School Employers’ Association negotiate fairly with teachers. Christy Clark, her government, and BCPSEA are insisting on rollbacks, freezing wages, and ignoring the Supreme Court of British Columbia.”

Iker said he was incredibly disappointed and frustrated as teachers have worked hard this round to create a sense of calm and purpose at the bargaining table. While the last round was dominated by government acting in bad faith, this time teachers were hopeful that new players and a new framework agreement would help both parties reach a fair and reasonable deal.

In court today – a government application suspending any action on a complex court reversal was granted allowing the BC Government to have a day in court to argue its case.

A BC Supreme Court judge has ruled that the government was provoking its public school teachers into strike action and that it failed to negotiate in good faith, costing the province $2-million in damages.

In a long battle over legislation that eliminated teachers’ rights to bargain on issues such as class size and composition, a judge has concluded – for the second time – that the law is unconstitutional.