Vancouver Sun timeline of dispute
Timeline of the dispute between B.C. teachers and the government
AUGUST 2001—Liberal government declares education an essential service. Teachers not allowed to take any action that significantly disrupts education.
NOVEMBER 2001—The B.C. Teachers’ Federation begins limited job action. The B.C. Labour Relations Board is asked to determine what job action is possible under the essential-services law.
JANUARY 2002—Liberal government imposes a contract on teachers limiting their ability to negotiate class size, class composition or the number of specialty teachers. Teachers hold a protest Jan. 27th closing schools province-wide.
JUNE 2004—Contract expires, bargaining is underway.
SEPT. 23, 2005—The BCTF announces it has a strike mandate from 88.4 per cent of its members.
SEPT. 28—The union begins limited job action, but says rotating strikes will begin Oct. 11, followed by a full-scale strike Oct. 24.
SEPT. 30—A government fact-finder declares a negotiated agreement impossible, both sides were unable to agree on a single item after 35 sessions.
OCT. 3—Government introduces Bill 12, to impose a contract, that includes a zero-wage increase, that will expire June 2006.
OCT. 5—Teachers vote 90.5 per cent to stage a full-scale strike across the province to protest Bill 12.
OCT. 6—Jinny Sims, president of the teachers’ federation is joined with other labour leaders in face-to-face meeting with Labour Minister Mike De Jong. The government refuses to repeal Bill 12.
OCT. 7—Picket lines go up at schools.
OCT. 17—More than 10,000 teachers and unionized workers protest on the legislature grounds, demanding Bill 12 be revoked.
OCT. 18—Labour leaders promise another protest and job action by CUPE in Prince George and other northern B.C. communities.
OCT. 19—More protests involving private sector and unionized employees planned. No location disclosed.
Photo credit: Raffaella’s “on strike II” photos on Flickr
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