B.C. politician urges teachers to cross picket line
Last Updated Wed, 12 Oct 2005 12:18:02 EDT
CBC News
With 42,000 teachers in British Columbia in the third day of an illegal strike, the province's education minister says her government will try to protect teachers who defy their union and return to the classroom.
Shirley Bond made the statement while pointing out that only about half the teachers eligible to vote actually cast ballots last week on the question of whether the union should begin an illegal strike.
Jinny Sims, president of the B.C. Teachers' Federation, speaks to striking grade school teachers outside Macdonald Elementary School in east Vancouver on Tuesday. (CP Photo/Chuck Stoody)
She said the low turnout rate suggests many teachers want to be back on the job.
"It's time that the B.C. Teachers' Federation actually listened to the voice of, not just parents, but many classroom teachers, who are expressing that view," she added.
For its part, the federation says it will continue the strike, and it says it will call on other unions to join in a general strike as a sign of support for the teachers.
Last Updated Wed, 12 Oct 2005 12:18:02 EDT
CBC News
With 42,000 teachers in British Columbia in the third day of an illegal strike, the province's education minister says her government will try to protect teachers who defy their union and return to the classroom.
Shirley Bond made the statement while pointing out that only about half the teachers eligible to vote actually cast ballots last week on the question of whether the union should begin an illegal strike.
Jinny Sims, president of the B.C. Teachers' Federation, speaks to striking grade school teachers outside Macdonald Elementary School in east Vancouver on Tuesday. (CP Photo/Chuck Stoody)
She said the low turnout rate suggests many teachers want to be back on the job.
"It's time that the B.C. Teachers' Federation actually listened to the voice of, not just parents, but many classroom teachers, who are expressing that view," she added.
For its part, the federation says it will continue the strike, and it says it will call on other unions to join in a general strike as a sign of support for the teachers.