B.C. teachers' strike: No school year start Tuesday

When veteran mediator Vince Ready declared an impasse and walked away from talks between British Columbia teachers and their employer Saturday, parents' hopes for the school year to start on time walked out with him.

All parties agree: Kids won't be in class Sept. 2

CBC News Posted: Aug 31, 2014 3:05 PM EDT | Last Updated: September 1, 2014

What will it take it get kids back in school?

10 years ago

3:17

B.C. parents are angry and frustrated that two two sides in the teachers' strike can't find a solution

When veteran mediator Vince Ready declared an impasse and walked away from talks between British Columbia teachers and their employer Saturday,parents' hopes for the school year tostart on time walked out with him.

Education MinisterPeterFassbendersaid he was "disappointed" at the outcome of this week's failed negotiations, and wishes he had better news to share withstudents, parents and teachers.

"What should be a time of excitement and anticipation will instead be marked by frustration and uncertainty," he said in a written statement Saturday.

Registration now open for $40-a-day parent support pay

"I wish I could tell BritishColumbianswhen students will be back in school. But right now, I don't see any quick or easy solutions."

Since Thursday, Ready had been trying to develop a framework for mediation to bring the province's 40,000 public school teachers back to work, but he said the positions of both sides seemed to him to be intractable.

"I just see no basis at this point for meaningful negotiations or mediation," he told reporters in Richmond, B.C., Saturday.

'I'm stepping away': Vince Ready RAW interview

10 years ago

2:19

Mediator Vince Ready explains why he is leaving the B.C. teachers' strike negotiations

At this point it's clear there will not be school on Tuesday- Peter Cameron,B.C. Public School Employers' Association negotiator

Peter Cameron, negotiatorfor the B.C. Public School Employers' Association, which has been bargaining on behalf of government, saidhis side made concessionsbut there was obviously not enough common ground and the current round of talks was now over.

"I hope wecan get back as soon as possible, butat this point it's clear there will not be school on Tuesday, and that teachers will be striking Tuesday and for several more days next week, at least," he told CBC News.

Cameron says the teachers need to reduce their demands for more moneybefore the issues around class size and composition can be discussed.

ANALYSIS | Class size and composition are key issues

JimIker, president of the B.C. Teachers' Federation, had been optimistic earlier this week that classes would get underway next week, but admittedafter Saturday's failed talks that the strike would continue after Labour Day.

No school year start on Tuesday

10 years ago

2:48

The B.C. teachers' union and the employers' association are too far apart to get close to a deal before Sept. 2

"As of right now, school will not be starting on the second of September, though our teachers would love to be back at work," he said.

Iker, blamingthe failure of the negotiations on government, also issued a request toBritishColumbians.

"Iencourage all ofyou tocontact yourMLAsand let them know it's time forgovernmentto compromise, [and]increase funding to address the issues related to class size, and composition and learning specialist levels," he said.

B.C. teachers' strike: winners and losers

10 years ago

2:59

Who stands to benefit from the protracted B.C. teachers' strike?

Neither the teachers' union nor the employers' association has set a date for a return to the bargaining table.

The government has said it will not legislate teachers back to work, but has proposed giving parents of children aged 12 and under $40 a day to help with daycare costs should the strike continue.