The province has proposed a two-week truce with striking
teachers to at least allow B.C. schools to reopen as scheduled next week
while a mediated settlement is pursued.
The idea of a cooling-off period allowing classes to start while
mediated talks proceed was put to B.C. Teachers Federation president Jim
Iker by Education Minister Peter Fassbender and government negotiator
Peter Cameron.
There was no deal between the two sides but Cameron said he felt progress was made in the 90-minute meeting Wednesday afternoon.
Iker called for mediation to begin Thursday but indicated he needed union membership approval to halt picketing.
Fassbender told Black Press he's surprised and disappointed the union head wouldn't quickly agree to a strike suspension.
"I had hoped, maybe unrealistically, that Mr. Iker was in a position
to agree that there was nothing there that compromised their ability to
negotiate with a mediator in the room, that we could see school commence
on Tuesday so that students can learn and teachers can be paid," the
minister said.
"We are just asking them to voluntarily stand down and let classes start while the parties are in mediation."
The B.C. Public School Employers Association would also pledge to suspend lockout activity if the truce goes ahead. (read more)
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Perhaps Mr Iker is more interested in the democratic process by asking his membership about suspending the strike. They have good reasons to be suspicious!
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