Prince George teachers are joining their colleagues around the province to vote on whether or not they accept binding arbitration.
Though the province has twice rejected the BCTF’s call for binding arbitration, President of the PG & District Teachers’ Association – Tina Cousins says this vote will put the “ball in the government’s court”
“Teachers are committed to public education and getting a deal and we want to head back to work, but the government is standing in the way of this,” Cousins says.
Cousins also appreciates the support the union has received from 10 other unions in the province along with the BC Federation of Labour.
“We have had a number of them donating to our hardship fund, we have a lot of union support,” she says. “It feels great, the union people know that this is a fight that teachers can’t lose”.
Though rumours have circulated about the province ending the strike, either by bringing in a tierd private school system or legislating “back to work” action next month, Cousins feels binding arbitration is the best option.
“I’m not sure what the government is going to do with legislation, but they have not made any moves at the bargaining table at this point in time,” Cousins says.
Teachers’ polls are open at their picket lines and the PGTA office until 5 p.m..
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