BCTF: Teachers back strong salary case with huge yes vote
Teachers across British Columbia have voted overwhelmingly to back their bargaining demand for a fair and competitive salary increase.
A total of 85.2 % of teachers voted yes in a province-wide strike vote conducted June 7 and 8, 2006. In all, 30,202 teachers cast a ballot, of whom 25,698 voted yes.
“This vote sends a strong message to the government and the employer that teachers are serious about their need for a significant salary increase,” said Jinny Sims, president of the BC Teachers’ Federation.
“Our salaries haven’t kept up with inflation, nor have they kept up with colleagues in other provinces. The finance minister’s own research showed that BC teachers are 20% behind Alberta and Ontario.”
Vancouver Sun: B.C. teachers vote 85 per cent in favour of a strike
Published: Friday, June 09, 2006
B.C. teachers have voted 85 per cent in favour of a strike during two days of voting this week, the B.C. Teachers Federation said today.
In a written statement, the federation said that 30,202 teachers cast ballots and of those, 25,698 voted yes to a strike.
Federation president Jinny Sims said the vote signals the teachers’ resolve to achieve their contract demands during the ongoing bargaining process.
“Our salaries haven’t kept up with inflation, nor have they kept up with colleagues in other provinces. The finance minister’s own research showed that BC teachers are 20% behind Alberta and Ontario,” she said.
Contract negotiations between the teachers and the British Columbia Public School Employers’ Association are ongoing.
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