Children are returning to class on schedule this week in British Columbia. There had been fears that schools would be closed because of a teachers’ strike, but that is on hold, at least for the moment.
The president of the BC Teacher’s Federation has sent an email to members that the provincial government and the union are postponing bargaining as they head to court.
Jim Iker says 19 days this month are scheduled in B.C. Supreme Court over a 2011 ruling that declared the government had violated constitutional rights by denying the union the right to bargain over class size, composition and staffing levels.
Negotiations are expected to resume in early October.
Meanwhile, education workers are also in talks with the government, prompting fears that teachers would refuse to cross picket lines.
However, a spokesman for those workers says bargaining is scheduled through the first week of school. He says as long as talks are moving forward, there are no immediate plans for job action.
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