Last week 73 per cent of teachers in B.C. voted to ratify a new job action plan which includes the withdrawal of participation in extra curricular activities, says Joan Erb, Cariboo-Chilcotin Teachers Association president.
“Teachers do not make this decision lightly but we feel there is no other avenue to convince the government that Bill 22 is both unconstitutional and undemocratic,” Erb says.
“Teachers are neither willing to accept the demise of their collective agreement nor their constitutional right to collectively bargain class size and composition.
“It is with great regret we withdraw our volunteering but we have nothing else left as leverage.”
She says the withdrawal from extra curricular activities starts immediately but she does expect that some CCTA members will choose to continue with extra curricular activities started.
She says teachers are also filling out report cards for the reporting period March 1 to April 15 in keeping with requirements of Bill 22 passed on March 16.
“Since Bill 22 passed March 16 there was an expectation that teachers complete a report for April,” Erb says. However, Erb says teachers will neither be participating in the graduation ceremonies or volunteering for the Dry Grad activities.
Superintendent of Schools Diane Wright says extra-curricular activities where a financial commitment is in place will continue, for example field trips or theatrical productions.
“I am working with secondary principals on details, but graduation ceremonies will go ahead with some modifications,” Wright says. “Dry grad goes ahead with parental organization.”