While the iron is hot

That's right. Strike. It's never really a word that teachers want to hear (at least not me). We would like our democratic (i.e. bureaucratic) bargaining system to actually work - the first time. We would like to see adherence to class size limits, adherence to composition limits, and we would like a fair salary. And we would like all this to occur, in a timely fashion, where the two negotiating parties come to an actual agreement. But maybe I'm being a little idealistic.

I am talking about the BC education system. In the fall (before I was hired), teachers fought for students' learning conditions and teachers' working conditions and won. Now, we are trying to reach a fair salary settlement. At the maximum level on the scale (11 years) with 5 years of education (what most BC teachers have) BC teachers are currently making $10 000 to $12 000 LESS than teachers in Alberta and Ontario. In a few years, we will likely be making less than teachers in Saskatchewan. The problem? In the lower mainland, living expenses and inflation are out of control (and I don't see that changing in the near future - we filled up with gas two days ago for $1.22/L) and BC is a HAVE province. There IS money in the budget. We would just like to be closer to what Alberta and Ontario teachers make.

As a result of stalled negotiations, the BCTF is taking a strike vote tomorrow. This means there is a possibility of "job action" (going on strike) in September if a settlement is not reached by June 30. The last time negotiations stalled, the government legislated a contract and then extended it without going back to the bargaining table. That is what made teachers angry in the fall. Hopefully, we reach a solution this time. I guess I'll see what happens.