THURSDAY June 12, 2014 Vol. 29• No. 47 ••• $1.25 inc. G.S.T.
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Teachers choose to escalate strike action Lack of strike fund not a deterrent Jeff Nagel BC Local News
B.C. teachers have voted in favour of a full walkout to put maximum pressure on the provincial government, but it’s unclear how quickly their union may issue 72-hour strike notice.
The result of the vote, conducted Monday and Tuesday, was 86 per cent in favour, or 28,809 out of 33,387 ballots cast. B.C. Teachers Federation president Jim Iker called it a “very strong message” to the province. “So far this government has come to the table empty-handed, it’s time to change that,” Iker said. He said while teachers are prepared to go to a full-scale strike
that’s “a decision we never take lightly” and would depend on how talks proceed with the provincial government. “You’ve got to remain hopeful that government has learned from the past mistakes they’ve made,” Iker said, who referred to the union’s legal battle with the province over class size and composition and “the government’s chaotic lockout.” The earliest a full-scale strike
could begin is Monday. The lack of $50-a-day strike pay – the BCTF’s strike fund was expected to be exhausted at the end of this week – was apparently a non-issue for most teachers. The Labour Relations Board was expected to hear arguments Wednesday on the province’s application to declare exams and final grades an essential service in the event of a full strike. The province has also pledged
to end its partial lockout of teachers at the end of the school year to enable summer school operations. The government has saved $12 million each week in salaries during the teachers’ current but limited job action, plus nearly $5 million more by chopping wages. Education Minister Peter Fassbender said the result was not unexpected.
... see TEACHERS■ A3
Firehall gets green light
SUNSET STRIP
2017 targeted as opening date for new satellite station Scott Stanfield Record Staff
Courtenay council unanimously agreed that the east side of the city needs a new training ground for volunteer firefighters at a satellite firehall. Council approved Monday the use of surplus funding to construct the training grounds, expected to be ready for service early next year. The new hall is expected to be up and running in 2017, in conjunction with the new regional hospital. The firehall/training centre will be located at 220 Waters Place off Veteran’s Memorial Parkway behind the BC Hydro substation. Phase 1 of the project is estimated to cost about $1.5 million for site preparation and $966,000 to construct the training grounds.
PHOTO BY CRANDELL OVERTON
Crandell Overton snapped this shot of the Comox air traffic control tower at sunset earlier this week. We could be without sunset shots for a few days, as a disruptive weather system sets upon the Island.
... see XXXXXXXX ■ A6
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