Dear Editor:
Re: Teachers ponder their next move Burnaby NOW, March 7.
It appears that both parties involved, the teachers' union and the government, have lost track of what is really important - the education of our children.
The teachers are insisting on a 15 per cent raise over three years, even though most government unions have settled for zero, and the government is adamant that it won't budge from its net-zero policy. In fact, given the dire state of the province's finances, they can't give way.
The teachers' union says it will resist back-to-work legislation without specifying what action they will take.
The message that sends to students is: If you don't like what the government decides, break the law.
Decisive action to settle this dispute needs to be taken before the situation gets worse.
Perhaps by being innovative rather than the confrontational, ways can be found to give the teachers some kind of increase without negatively affecting education standards within the net-zero formula. I think both parties are obligated to at least try.
Garth Evans, Burnaby
