Liberal MLA Richard Lee faced a couple dozen protesting teachers at his Willingdon Avenue constituency office Monday afternoon.
The Burnaby Teachers' Association organized the rally to "amplify" its call for government to enter into arbitration with the B.C. Teachers' Federation (BCTF) to end the ongoing teachers' labour dispute that has already wiped out more than a week of school.
The BCTF called for binding arbitration Friday, but government has rejected the notion.
Even before the offer, Education Minister Peter Fassbender told the NOW last week the government was not considering arbitration.
“Arbitration allows a third party to come in and make decisions that should be made by the parties at the negotiating table,” he said.
Teachers around the province will nonetheless vote on arbitration Wednesday.
A "yes" vote would end the strike and reopen schools as soon as the government agreed to arbitration.
Back in Burnaby, Lee told local teachers he would bring their message about arbitration back to the minister.
"I think everybody has the right to express their opinion," he said.
The exchange did little to raise local union president Rae Figursky's hopes that government would accept arbitration, but she was happy for the chance to talk to Lee in person.
"I'm encouraged that he actually came out because most MLAs haven't been coming out," she said.
