SSTA Joins Voluntary Withdrawl

By Gagandeep Ghuman
Published: April. 6, 2012

Sea to Sky Teachers Association has passed a resolution to encourage teachers to withdraw all voluntary service to their schools.

“As of March.8th, we have strongly encouraged our members to work as per their agreement, but to withdraw all voluntary services,” said Beth Miller, the president of the Sea to Sky Teachers Association.

In doing so, the SD 48 teachers have joined 14 other school districts where the teachers have voted to stop volunteer activities.

These could include a plethora of activities, from doing committee work at the school level, running clubs, or involving trips that include overnight supervision.

“A lot of teachers will have study hours after school, for example. A lot of that kind of activity is going to be withdrawn,” Miller said.

She said the effects of this resolution will soon be visible in the school system, and for a good reason.

“This is completely out of anger at the government for not listening,” she said.

“The legislation is so draconian, and they have taken away from us every other avenue we have to protest, this is the only thing we have left to make a point.”

She said the withdrawal of the teacher’s volunteer service for sports activities will start in the winter season .

She said teachers at the local school district wanted to withdraw from the service because they realise how much the education system depends on the good will of the teachers.

The withdrawal of volunteer services presages a similar move in a province wide vote to be taken by BCTF in a few weeks. Speaking to the Vancouver Province, Susan Lambert, the BCTF president said the reason why it’s happening at the local level is because teachers are angry.

“If you’ve got 15 districts who are already voting for it, you’ve got a pretty good indication.”