Prince Rupert School Board joins a growing number of districts call upon the government to withdraw Bill 12 and to allow meaningful negotiations to begin. From Vancouver, New Westminster, Vancouver Island, to the north coast school board trustees are telling the government to get with it and negotiate!
Source: Prince Rupert District Teachers Union
Here’s a list of some of the school boards backing teachers:
Vancouver, Surrey, Coquitlam, Greater Victoria, Central Okanagan, Burnaby, Vernon, New Westminster, Sunshine Coast, Powell River, Boundary, Prince Rupert, Sooke, Saanich, Quesnel, Gulf Islands, Cowichan, Alberni, Qualicum, Campbell River, Fraser Cascade, Fort Nelson, Southeast Kootenay, Revelstoke, Nicola-Similkameen, and Vancouver Island North.
Prince Rupert Teachers Backed by Trustees
Last night, teachers were joined by parents and community members in a rally outside the School Board Office to show support for teachers across the province. Messages of encouragement were presented by various organizations, including the B.C. Federation of Labour, the Local Labour Council, and the Retired Teachers Association.
Following the rally, Marty Bowles, along with Raegan Sawka, Erin Greene, and Joyce Dundas, presented the Trustees with a picture of our schools and why teachers have been forced to take a stand against Bill 12. Also in attendance during the presentation were a number of teachers, and our local MLA, Gary Coons.
The following motions were passed by the Board of Trustees:
To acknowledge and support the teachers of Prince Rupert and the rest of British Columbia in their determination to bargain a fair and reasonable collective agreement that addresses both working and learning conditions and salaries.
To call on the provincial government to set aside Bill 12 and allow meaningful negotiations to begin
To communicate the previous resolutions to the media and the provincial government, other school boards and the BCSTA, and BCPSEA.
To urge the government to return the only system that has worked efficiently and effectively in this province –that is local full scope bargaining.
The Board of Trustees will meet later in the week to discuss a motion to close all schools in School District 52 until such a time as teachers have voted in favour of returning to work.