Teachers' votes on whether to escalate job action to a full-scale walkout are expected to be tallied by Thursday.
According to Comox Valley District Teachers' Association (CDTA) president Steve Stanley, a full-scale walkout is a possibility, but everything is up in the air right now in regards to the future of BC Teachers' Federation (BCTF) and BC Public School Employers' Association (BCPSEA) negotiations.
As of Tuesday morning, Stanley said the BCTF was waiting for a Labour Relations Board (LRB) decision on what kind of job action teachers could do legally, which was expected sometime on Tuesday.
Because teaching is considered an essential service, the BCTF must have its proposed job action approved by the LRB for it to be legal.
The BCTF requested a full-scale walkout for eight days over a two-week span.
However, Education Minister George Abbott was expected to table legislation Tuesday after the Record went to press. Stanley said how teachers vote would likely be impacted by what the legislation looks like.
As well, Abbott said government is still considering the mediation route to reach an agreement, but he specified that the government's net zero mandate would not change in this possible situation.
Teachers held a Day of Action on Monday, which did not include any rallies in the Comox Valley, but was more of a time for teachers to meet and discuss the current situation, according to Stanley.
He said Comox Valley teachers seemed generally supportive of the escalation vote.
"Locally, the feeling was very supportive of BCTF (BC Teachers' Federation) executive, and the strong sense that this is the right time to take that kind of escalation vote and show the government that we're prepared to stand up for what we believe in," said Stanley.
However, even if teachers vote in favour of escalation, it does not necessarily mean escalated job action will occur, but rather the BCTF executive would just have the OK from teachers if it comes to that.
Check Friday's paper and www.comoxvalleyrecord.com for updates.
writer@comoxvalleyrecord.com
