Close X
Wednesday, November 27, 2024
ADVT 
National

More classes cancelled as B.C. teachers strike goes into second week of school

Darpan News Desk Canadian Press, 08 Sep, 2014 10:33 AM
    VANCOUVER - All half a million of British Columbia's public school students remain locked out of their classrooms at the start of the second week of the school year as the teachers strike continues.
     
    Over the weekend, the province rejected a deal that tried to end — or at least suspend — the  strike.
     
    Education Minister Peter Fassbender says he would not agree to binding arbitration after government negotiator Peter Cameron advised against the idea, saying the proposal was not serious.
     
    Cameron says the teachers did not put give government a written proposal and failed to guarantee the end of the strike.
     
    But Jim Iker of the BC Teachers' Federation says the union would have asked its members to vote to end the job action, and government was being inflexible.
     
    If both sides had gone forward with the deal, a third party would have been appointed to draw out contract details that teachers and government would have been forced to agree upon.
     
    Fassbender had previously given a cool response to the idea, but stopped short of "categorically" rejecting the proposal.
     
    However, since Cameron's suggestion, it appears arbitration is completely out of the picture.
     
    After government's rejection of the idea, Cameron said he believed the next step toward resolving the dispute would be to hold talks with veteran mediator Vince Ready.
     
    The teachers' union has also expressed openness to the idea on Twitter.
     
    Ready is regarded as one of Canada's top labour troubleshooters, but he said last week the two sides were too far apart for mediation to be effective.
     
    But Cameron says Ready is still monitoring the situation.
     
    The ongoing job action has prompted one school district to entertain its international students  because refunds for the annual admission fee will not be given for time lost during the strike.
     
    The Delta School District charges $13,000 for students from around the world to come learn English and attend its classes for a year.
     
    Spokeswoman Deneka Michaud (mi-show) says administrators will take students to see parks, lakes and do Canadian activities for several days this week.
     
    She says the district will monitor the strike situation and make plans on how it will handle the international students if job action keeps going.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Canadians watched less TV in 2013 but streamed more: CRTC report

    Canadians watched less TV in 2013 but streamed more: CRTC report
    Canadians spent a little less time channel surfing last year but still watched more TV content overall when accounting for streaming, suggests a report by the CRTC.

    Canadians watched less TV in 2013 but streamed more: CRTC report

    GSK won't be able to supply 2 million doses of flu vaccine promised for 2014-15

    GSK won't be able to supply 2 million doses of flu vaccine promised for 2014-15
    GSK, Canada's largest flu vaccine supplier, won't be able to fill about 30 per cent of its Canadian order for the upcoming 2014-15 flu season, the company said Thursday.

    GSK won't be able to supply 2 million doses of flu vaccine promised for 2014-15

    Former Quebec doctor seeks bail while awaiting new 2015 trial for killing kids

    Former Quebec doctor seeks bail while awaiting new 2015 trial for killing kids
    A former Quebec doctor charged in the stabbing deaths of his two young children in 2009 says he should get bail while awaiting trial.

    Former Quebec doctor seeks bail while awaiting new 2015 trial for killing kids

    Former PMs, First Nations leaders seek to ease tensions between groups

    Former PMs, First Nations leaders seek to ease tensions between groups
    OTTAWA - Former prime ministers and aboriginal leaders are joining forces in a bid to ease tensions between aboriginal and non-aboriginal groups.

    Former PMs, First Nations leaders seek to ease tensions between groups

    Surrey Mother Charged With Neglect After Toddler Ends Up In Hospital

    Surrey Mother Charged With Neglect After Toddler Ends Up In Hospital
    The mother of a two-year-old child in Surrey, B.C., has been charged with neglecting the toddler. RCMP say they became involved after the child was brought to a hospital.

    Surrey Mother Charged With Neglect After Toddler Ends Up In Hospital

    Tuition, Books, Mooning? Frosh-week Rituals Can Be Costly in Toronto, Police Warn

    Tuition, Books, Mooning? Frosh-week Rituals Can Be Costly in Toronto, Police Warn
    A Toronto-area police force is warning students about the hidden cost of some questionable frosh-week rituals such as streaking and putting cement in a public washing machine — both of which carry fines of up to $5,000.

    Tuition, Books, Mooning? Frosh-week Rituals Can Be Costly in Toronto, Police Warn