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Friday, May 23, 2014
Strike action closes SD28 schools May 26
VOL. 100 NO. 76
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AUTUMN MacDONALD Observer Reporter After months of unsuccessful negotiations Quesnel teachers will be on the picket line Monday. “The Quesnel School District has been advised by the BCTF, the union representing teachers, that Quesnel teachers will be on strike on Monday, May 26,” School District 28’s release states. All Quesnel schools will be behind picket-lines on this day. Teachers will not be in attendance and no classes will be scheduled. Busses will not run on that day. At the heart of the disagreement, said Quesnel District Teachers’ Association president Lisa Kishkan is class size and composition. “Our primary concern is that government is unwilling to address class size and composition in negotiations,” she said. “We know that our working conditions are their learning conditions. At the end of the day, this is about kids in classrooms.” SD28 said while principals will be in the building, for safety reasons they ask that parents/ guardians make childcare arrangements for Monday. Nazko Elementary and Wells Elementary will also be closed. Last week the B.C. government offered teachers a $1,200 signing bonus and a reduction to the proposed contract from 10 to six years. Chief negotiator for the province’s 60 school districts, Peter Cameron also informed the union that it will begin cutting teachers’ pay by five per cent if teachers continue to refuse to perform some of their duties. BCTF president Jim Iker called the threat to cut wages due to strike action “just so disrespectful” and promised they’d be bringing it to the Labour Relations Board. He reiterated the union’s position that more pay, more teachers and a return to contract language guaranteeing class size and special needs support are needed to reach a settlement. SD28 is back to school Tuesday, May 27.
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Market rickshaw Whether it’s wet grass, sore feet or just wanting a ride, this customer at the Quesnel Farmers’ Market hitched a ride around the Helen Dixon grounds and enjoyed a bird’s eye view of what was on offer. Autumn MacDonald photo
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