British Columbia Teachers Resist Attacks on Collective Bargaining & Right to Strike

Teachers in British Columbia, Canada, recently voted 73% in favor of more actions against government cuts and the attacks on their labor rights. As a result of cuts, many special education teachers are being replaced by teaching assistants, according to the Teacher Solidarity website. They are also fighting against their government’s attempts to take away their rights to strike and collectively bargain, through Bill 22 . Their most recent job action has been to withdraw from extra-curricular duties—a move that indicates the high level of their frustration, as teachers generally hate to do anything that reduces their students’ access to valuable learning activities.