Even before they hit the picket lines Thursday, Burnaby teachers knew they were likely in for another local walkout next Tuesday unless something gives at the provincial bargaining table before then.
Burnaby Mountain Secondary art teacher Roger Sullens doesn’t think that’s likely.
“It seems bleak at this point,” he told the NOW at a picket line in front of his school Thursday morning. “It doesn’t seem to be going anywhere.”
Sullens and other teachers in the Burnaby school district were off the job as part of province-wide rotating teacher strikes sparked by the partial lockout of teachers this week.
The sticking points in the labour dispute are pay, class size and classroom support.
The province is offering a 7.3 per cent wage increase over six years, while teachers want 13.7 per cent over four years.
The main issue for Sullens, however, is class size and class composition.
“It’s just so difficult to give your students what they need when your classes are so large and you have no say about what kinds of students are in your room, what special needs and ESL and that,” he said. “You just feel you’re spread way way too thin.”
The B.C. Teachers’ Federation announced Wednesday that rotating strikes will continue next Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
Burnaby schools are scheduled to be behind picket lines again Tuesday.
In the meantime, teachers are locked out at lunch and recess and are not allowed at school earlier than 45 minutes before the first class or later than 45 minutes after the last one.
