Rossland teachers are on their third week of this year’s strike, the most extensive teachers’ strike in British Columbia’s history.
With support from Rosslanders, they are standing out in the rain and sunshine in support of better schooling for children.
“Pretty much 99 per cent of the people in Rossland support us. They honk, wave and give us cookies,” says teacher Cyndi Smith.
“We really appreciate the public support,” added Kim McKinnon.
The teachers on strike in Rossland do not have children of their own in the system; they’re on strike for the children of others.
As the strike is unpaid, some of the teachers coming from teaching families or single income households are left with no income.
“We are digging our heels in for a reason,” explains Smith. “We deal with bullies in school and now we are dealing with a bullying government.”
The teachers definitely want to teach; they want back into the schools but they cannot give in to the government’s unfair treatment anymore.
The BC Supreme Court has already ruled in the teachers’ favour twice but the government keeps ignoring them.
Standing on the corner of Columbia Avenue and St Paul Street, the teachers fight for a better school system with better education and help for special needs children.