As Bill 22, the B.C. Government's controversial educational legislation, is debated in Victoria this week, Surrey teachers continue to be off the job.
It's not a Labour Relations Board-approved job action this time, but the scheduled two-week spring break, in which Surrey, like many other districts including Vancouver, now incorporates a week's closure as a budgetary measure.
District teachers returned to class last Thursday and Friday following their LRB-sanctioned three-day strike.
Surrey Teachers Association Denise Moffat confirmed they were hewing to 'phase one' job action; teaching in the classrooms, but refusing supervisory work.
"And it's a bell-to-bell day, which means they're there 15 minutes before the first bell and 15 minutes after the last bell," she said.
NDP leader Adrian Dix has said that every member of the NDP caucus plans to use the full allotment of 30 minutes in speaking against Bill 22, which provides a six-month 'cooling off' period in contract negotiations, and the appointment of a mediator to settle the contract within the government's 'net zero' wage increase policy, while prohibiting any further strike activity and instituting heavy fines for strikes and lockouts.
Taking into account education minister George Abbott's declared intent of not rushing the bill into law, and the fact the Legislature will not be in session during the week of March 19-23, it appears debate could continue until the end of the month.
Meanwhile, Moffat said, teachers will continue to push their fight against the legislation, with further steps still under discussion.
"It's fair to say the amount of support the teachers have had from the public has made us hopeful the government will see their opportunity to do the right thing and come to the table – and find a solution that is non-legislated," she said.
The relationship between teachers and the government would be "irreparably damaged" if the legislation is passed, she predicted.
Moffat said an estimated 300 Surrey teachers were among the thousands of BCTF members and members of other unions who rallied last Tuesday outside the Legislature.
"A group of Surrey teachers were in Victoria meeting with MLAs from all parties to discuss their concerns – every MLA they could speak with," she said.
"These are classroom teachers who feel passionately about public education."