BC Nurses' Union condemns government actions in teachers' dispute

BCNU President Debra McPherson says by locking out teachers and deducting pay during rotating strikes the government is undermining the bargaining process and in doing so has launched a devious strategy.

"BCNU believes the real motivation is to provoke a full scale strike, which court documents have clearly shown was a government strategy during previous disputes with teachers."

McPherson says if a negotiated settlement can't be reached, an independent, mutually agreed upon mediator should be brought in to impose binding arbitration.

"The government shouldn't bully teachers into a position where children suffer," says McPherson. "Binding arbitration would take away their ability to use children as pawns in the negotiation process."

The BCNU is encouraging nurses to support teachers by seeking out picket lines in their communities and to speak out against the government's response by writing letters to the media and call-in during radio shows on the issue.