The BC Teachers' Federation announced Thursday it will issue 72-hour strike notice after negotiations between it and the province stalled.
But don’t expect school closures in Richmond any time soon.
On April 23 teachers plan to start low-level job action that targets administrative duties such as out-of-class student supervision, limited communication with principals and limiting time spent at the school to one hour before and after school hours. But teachers will continue to write report cards.
"Job action, even low-level action, is always a last resort because teachers care deeply about our schools and our students," wrote BCTF president Jim Iker in an online statement.
On March 6, 89 per cent of BC teachers voted in favour of strike action.
After low-level action is taken Iker said rotating strikes would soon follow.
"Our hope is for a negotiated deal at the bargaining table and not escalating job action," wrote Iker.
It was not announced whether or not Richmond would be affected by such strikes.
"At this point in time there's no discussion of rotating strikes, specifically," said Al Klassen, president of the Richmond Teachers’ Association.
Teachers are asking for wage increases and improvements to learning conditions like class size, class composition and specialist staffing levels.
Klassen said teachers have already made significant concessions in negotiations.
The provincial government is appealing of a B.C. Supreme Court ruling that declared the Ministry of Education unconstitutionally removed the rights of teachers to negotiate class size and composition 12 years ago. The decision has been stayed by the Court of Appeal while the two sides negotiate.
