Squamish public-school teachers and their supporters marched from the Adventure Centre to the School District 48 board office this week to back what they called a fair settlement to the province-wide labour dispute with the provincial government.
About 120 teachers, other public-sector workers and their supporters staged the demonstration as part of a day of action meant to demonstration solidarity on Monday (Feb. 27).
The event, led by Sea to Sky Teachers' Association (SSTA) president Beth Miller, came on the same day that the B.C. Teachers' Federation (BCTF) responded to the B.C. government's plans to legislate an end to the 5 -month-old job action by applying to the Labour Relations Board for the right to stage a full, province-wide strike.
In Squamish, teachers and their supporters carried signs that read, Taking a stand for public education, Kids matter, Teachers care, and Kids can't wait. A few of the former signs included the scrawled word still in front of the words taking a stand, while at least one included the years 2002, 2005 and 2011 the dates of the three B.C. teachers' labour disputes with the current Liberal government.
Miller made note of that fact in her opening remarks.
It's been 10 long years and it feels like nothing has changed, she told the crowd that gathered after school at the Adventure Centre. We're still saddled with a Liberal government that acts like a playground bully.
She also referred to the fact that only new money for education in the B.C. budget, released last week, was $165 million over three years for something called the Learning Improvement Program.
He (Finance Minister Kevin Falcon) offers a paltry $165 million over three years when this government has systematically stolen over $300 million from our public education system, Miller said.
Miller said teachers want a fair and negotiated contract settlement, not a legislated one, a child poverty reduction program, money to pay for teachers' assistants for every special-needs youngster who needs one and a comprehensive class-size-reduction plan.
All of this is possible, but only in a well-funded public education system, Miller said.
As the group began its march, Miller led a chant over a megaphone, calling out, What do we want? After the group answered, A fair deal, Miller asked, When do we want it? and the answer came back, Now.
Among those who came out to show their support for the teachers were a number of retired teachers. As well, Shannon Schaefer, president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 779, which represents about 180 teacher assistants, bus drivers and other public-school support staff, led a group of CUPE workers who came out to show their support for the teachers.
