VICTORIA: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) responded today to the British Columbia Teachers Federation's (BCTF) overwhelming strike vote. "Shutting down classrooms while demanding compensation increases of 35% is beyond the pale of reason, even for the BCTF. The union has seriously miscalculated the public's appetite for a strike," said Sara MacIntyre, BC director for the CTF.

The BCTF held their strike vote over two days and revealed today that 88.4% have voted in favour of strike action. Negotiations have been underway for the past 15 months and a fact finder was appointed earlier this week. The key issue is compensation. While over 100 contract settlements have been reached with the government's wage mandate, the BCTF wants a wage increase to match Alberta teachers. The BC Public School Employers Association has estimated the compensation increases to total $700 million per year.

"It speaks volumes that an independent investigator had to be appointed in order for negotiations to be more transparent. The public is in the dark with respect to the BCTF demands and yet we are the ones who eventually foot the bill. For instance, in one breath the BCTF has been demanding an increase to match rates in Alberta and yet has failed to formally request a wage increase during negotiations. They are up to their same old tricks, using students and their government monopoly to make unreasonable demands on the public purse."

In 2001, the government passed legislation declaring education an essential service. The law does not prohibit job action, but work interruptions cannot seriously disrupt the K-12 education program. It is up to the Labour Relations Board (LRB) to determine what type of action is permissible. The LRB has yet to make its ruling.

"The BCTF recently argued to the LRB that there is no evidence to suggest that prolonged strikes or lockouts have a negative impact on students, that, in fact, 'students manage.' Taxpayers shell out over $5 billion a year for students to get an education, not for them to deal with labour disputes. The government should stick to its zero and zero mandate and the BCTF should get back to reality," concluded MacIntyre.