Riding the rails 21
MARCH 12, 2014
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CHILLY RESCUE TRAINING
longtime volunteer honoured 3
Val Severin photo
Wranglers continue to fight 25
South Cariboo Search And Rescue (SCSAR) member Trevor Campbell, left, was the “rescuer,” saving member Dani Kidston, yellow, during a recent ice-rescue scenario. SCSAR members met with their neighbouring Central Cariboo SAR team from Williams Lake at Chimney Lake. The teams learned techniques to safely rescue victims from a variety of situations where they have fallen through the ice. SCSAR now has 16 fully certified and equipped Ice Rescue Team members to respond to ice immersion emergencies anywhere in the South Cariboo.
Teachers vote yes to strike notice Union pressures province, school boards brace for impacts
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Carole Rooney Free Press
The British Columbia Teachers’ Federation voted 89 per cent in favour at a strike vote on March 6. Cariboo-Chilcotin Teachers’ Association president Murray Helmer says he is not surprised at the overwhelming majority that places teachers on a 72-hour strike notice for 90-days. However, he says it is “all about putting pressure” on the province at the bargaining table at this point, and not about job action. If any strike action does occur later, it would be phased in, Helmer notes, and it would not immediately see any cessation of teachers doing extra-curricular volunteer work or
completing report cards, or walking or not the strike vote will lead to job off the job. action. There is common frustration “They’ve voted in favour of it, and being felt by teachers across the so there is always the possibility of Cariboo-Chilcotin who “sincerely a strike. We always have to be prewant” to have bargaining pared that that may be the proceed toward a resolution action they take.” of the outstanding issues, he Meanwhile, the local adds. trustees continue to hope for “Throughout this district a negotiated contract resolu– whether it’s in the towns or tion, she adds. at the rural schools – teach“We never want to see ers are saying the education classrooms disrupted and Murray supports are not there.” students not in school; that Helmer He adds the strike vote is always something we also shows government there would hope to avoid.” are 30,000 teachers out there who Education Minister Peter are “all of a like mind,” not merely Fassbender says he recognizes and the negotiators sitting at the table. respects the collective bargainSchool District #27 chair Tanya ing process allows tools for both Guenther says time will tell whether employers and unions to increase
pressure at the bargaining table. “A strike vote does create additional uncertainty for students, parents, support workers and teachers. That’s precisely why we need long-term stability in our schools, and why we need to pursue a long-term agreement at the bargaining table.” Government’s negotiators have tabled an initial package that includes a 6.5 per cent wage increase in the first six years, Fassbender notes. Class size and composition are back on the bargaining table, he adds, and that is where the discussions need to occur. “Now that the vote is over, I hope the union can focus on tabling their wage demands, so we can get on with meaningful bargaining.”