British Columbia teachers who have gone without strike pay since their union ran out of funds in mid-June may be getting some financial relief.
The BC Federation of Labour announced September 10 that it would provide $8 million to the British Columbia Teachers Federation (BCTF) in interest-free loans.
The labour group raised the funds from several B.C. unions.
“This support will help ensure the government cannot undermine teachers’ rights through financial hardship,” Jim Sinclair, president of the BC Federation of Labour, said in a release.
Members of the BCTF will vote September 10 on whether to go back to work if the provincial government agrees to binding arbitration. However, Education Minister Peter Fassbender has said arbitration is not an option.
A Canadian Federation of Independent Business survey released September 10 showed that 43% of small business owners surveyed think the strike will have a negative impact on their business if it continues; 66% of respondents said they thought any new agreement should be in line with what the government has negotiated with other public sector unions.
The provincial government has repeatedly said that teachers’ wage demand are too high compared with what has recently been negotiated with other unions. But yesterday in a letter sent to Premier Christy Clark, Sinclair said B.C. unions stand united behind the BCTF.
“We urge you to immediately stop attributing your refusal to bargain critical issues with teachers because you want to be ‘fair to other public sector workers,’” the letter said.
Jackie-Rae Avery, the co-owner of East Vancouver restaurant Bandidas Taqueria, is using her business to show her support of the teachers. Avery will donate all of the restaurant’s profits from September 10 and every Wednesday the strike continues to the BCTF strike fund.
“I believe in our public education system, and in keeping in high quality,” she said. “I believe the only way we can do this is by hiring high-caliber teachers and paying them well.”
Avery said the restaurant has been busier than usual since she made the announcement on Facebook. She hopes to raise $2,000 on September 10.
@jenstden
