Elgin Park Secondary teachers Mike Jamieson and Tim Booker would normally have spent a rainy Monday inside, teaching or preparing classes for the week ahead.
But this week, they were braving the elements, among teachers who joined colleagues across B.C. in taking to the sidewalks outside their schools regardless of the weather.
It was a chilly, wet beginning to their three-day strike, but like other Surrey teachers they said were heartened by support from passersby.
Surrey Teachers Association president Denise Moffat said Monday she visited some eight schools that morning, and saw similar signs of support.
“At several lines, people were dropping off hot chocolate and doughnuts,” she said. “And even in the worst weather, teachers were staying strong in their resolve.”
The B.C. Teachers’ Federation served strike notice Thursday after a province-wide vote in favour of escalating job action. The move came two days after government tabled legislation forcing teachers back to regular classroom duties. Since September, they have refused to meet with administrators or complete report cards, and months of contract negotiations have proved fruitless.
Teachers were scheduled to strike until Wednesday and return to classrooms Thursday.
Moffat said Surrey teachers were not picketing per se.
“They’re not restricting access to, or blocking any school sites,” she said, adding that teachers she spoke to were concerned about the impact of impending back-to-work legislation and hopeful there is still a chance for a mediated agreement.
“These are not steps that teachers take lightly, but we’ve tried all of our other options. We really do want to see an end to this disruption – one that is fair for everybody: teachers, students, parents and the government.”
For Dean Pacheco, a counsellor and Grade 12 teacher at Sullivan Heights Secondary, it was important to show his opposition to legislation he says will not only be hurtful for teachers, but make things worse for students.
He said the proposed law removes contract language that caps the number of students with special learning needs that can be in one classroom. That alone, Pacheco said, will make it almost impossible for those kids – as well as their classmates – to get the attention they need.
Moffat said many teachers were also planning to participate in a demonstration outside the legislature Tuesday.
Friday, students at some Surrey high schools demonstrated their support for teachers.
At Earl Marriott Secondary, students took to the sidewalks with signs encouraging drivers to “honk for teachers.”
“They need more money,” Jackie Czarnecki, in Grade 12, said, noting teachers don’t get paid enough for the work they do.
She and Shelby Busby said they believe the strike action will work in the teachers’ favour.
Later Friday, small groups of students with signs were seen outside Johnston Heights, Frank Hurt, L.A. Matheson and Sullivan Heights. Jen Bhindi, in Grade 9 at Matheson, said she wanted to have her voice heard.
“We are showing that we care because this is our education,” Bhindi said.
Also on Friday, students from across the Lower Mainland gathered at the Vancouver Art Gallery.
A Facebook page set up earlier had more than 18,000 people indicating they’d be attending walkouts. Feelings appeared to be mixed.
While some teens were highly supportive, others said teachers have “no right” to complain. Parent reaction also appears split, with many taking their opinions to social media.
Leo Wang said the strike shows “most of our teachers don’t care about our kids, don’t care about student (sic), just money for themselves.”
Lacey Donaldson said the strike “sucks” but added “having a child myself with special needs… makes me understand their reasoning.”
- with files from Tracy Holmes, Dan Ferguson,
Alex Browne and Tom Fletcher