Nanaimo's public educators don't expect an end to the ongoing teachers' strike anytime soon.
Derek DeGear, president of the Nanaimo District Teachers' Association, said that he thinks it's unlikely that the job action, which has seen teachers refuse to attend staff meetings, complete paperwork or supervise students outside of instructional time, will end before Oct. 11.
That's the date when Supreme Court Justice Sandra Griffen agreed to clarify her ruling in April that the government violated teachers' constitutional rights in 2002 when it enacted legislation to end their union's right to bargain class size and composition. DeGear said while negotiations around benefits and wages will continue, the fact that crucial issues around class sizes and composition are now on hold until the court hearing will likely mean job action will continue for now.
District officials said they are continuing to do their best to keep the ongoing strike from hurting students' education.
"However, the whole point of the teachers' job action is to have an impact on school operations and we're trying to deal with it as best we can," said district spokeswoman Donna Reimer.
"For now, the students are learning in the classrooms and are safe and that's what's most important to us."
The B.C. Teachers' Federation announced Tuesday it is withdrawing from negotiations until the court hearing. Griffen gave the government one year to remedy the situation, but the parties disagree on what she intended.
DeGear said some secondary classes in the district are already overflowing as the second week of school draws to a close.
"The number of special-needs students in some of the classes is also too high, and the problem is being compounded with the lower number of educational assistants in the schools this year," he said.
RBarron@nanaimodailynews 250-729-4234
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