XPost: bc.politics, van.general, vic.general   
   XPost: nanaimo.general   
   From: "@nyet.ca   
      
   Vancouver Sun - June 10, 2014   
      
      
   B.C. teachers' union to announce strike vote results tonight (updated)   
      
      
   VANCOUVER — Parents and students are preparing for the possibility of a   
   full-scale strike next week, with the results of the teachers' vote   
   expected later tonight.   
      
   Teachers must give 72 hours notice for school closures.   
      
   Meanwhile, the B.C. Public School Employers' Association issued a letter   
   saying the lockout of teachers would not apply to summer school.   
      
   "(B.C. Teachers' Federation) members whose summer school work may be   
   covered by the terms of the collective agreement are not subject to the   
   terms of the lockout in respect of this work, and will receive their   
   full pay during this period, subject to any strike action by the Union,"   
   Michael Marchbank, BCPSEA's public administrator wrote in the letter.   
      
   The BCTF would not comment on that, saying only that hope remains for a   
   deal before the end of June. Although the lockout will not affect summer   
   school, it is not clear whether the teachers' strike would continue   
   through the summer, which would spell its cancellation.   
      
   Teachers have been on rotating strikes, closing schools from each   
   district for one day each week, since May 26.   
      
   The employer responded by instituting a partial lockout, which includes   
   a 10-per-cent pay cut, restricts teachers from working during recess or   
   lunch hour, or from arriving at school any earlier than 45 minutes   
   before classes start, or staying 45 minutes after they end.   
      
   Premier Christy Clark has high hopes to reach a settlement soon.   
      
   "It's well within the realm," she told reporters today, hours before the   
   vote tally was to be revealed. "If there's a will, there's a way. And   
   there's certainly a will on my part and on the government's part."   
      
   At the same time, teachers in Vancouver were holding a rally outside the   
   offices of the government's bargaining agent.   
      
   They said public education has eroded during the past decade under the   
   Liberal government.   
      
   "This is hugely frustrating and deeply troubling for teachers that we   
   have to do this and take this stand which impacts our students and   
   parents," said Gerry Kent, president of the Vancouver Elementary School   
   Teachers' Association.   
      
   Some teachers are already asking how they could get financial help as   
   they prepare for an extended period without pay, Kent said. In the event   
   of a walkout, the association expects requests for assistance to rise,   
   he said.   
      
   "Is it going to be a hardship on teachers? Absolutely."   
      
   Schools will be closed Wednesday in 22 districts, including most of the   
   Lower Mainland, with further closures planned for Thursday and Friday.   
      
   About half of B.C. parents support the province's teachers in their   
   ongoing labour dispute, nearly double the proportion who back the   
   government, according to a new poll.   
      
   The survey from Angus Reid Global, released Monday, found that more   
   British Columbians in general support the teachers' union (41 per cent)   
   than the province (34 per cent).   
      
   The gap widened to 49-per-cent support for teachers and 25-per-cent   
   support for the government when those surveyed had children in school.   
   Twenty-four per cent of parents supported neither side.   
      
   The poll also found that 62 per cent of those surveyed think that the   
   province should respect court decisions ordering it to restore previous   
   requirements for class size and composition.   
      
   On the question of teachers' wage demands, 43 per cent of respondents   
   wanted the two sides to compromise, while 36 per cent said teachers are   
   asking too much.   
      
   The online poll was conducted June 6 and 7 among 804 randomly selected   
   B.C. residents and carries a margin of error of +/-3.5 per cent, 19   
   times out of 20.   
      
   The employer applied to the Labour Relations Board to have final exams   
   and report cards declared as essential services, and a hearing to   
   determine this will be held today at 5:30 p.m.   
      
   The employer is offering a 7.3-per-cent wage increase over six years.   
   Teachers are asking for a 9.75-per-cent increase plus a portion of cost   
   of living over four years. The government has saved $12 million each   
   week that schools have been closed for one day in teacher salaries   
   during the job action, plus nearly $5 million more by chopping wages.   
      
   With files from Bethany Lindsay and The Canadian Press   
      
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