BC Teachers Federation and B.C. Federation of Labour to rally in Victoria next week to oppose Bill 22 and to support a fair and negotiated agreement for BC teachers

The BC Teachers Federation (BCTF) and the B.C. Federation of Labour today announced they will be holding a Rally at the BC Legislature next week.

-Teachers are tremendously heartened by the solidarity and support we have felt coming from union members all across BC," said BCTF President Susan Lambert.

-People understand that Bill 22 threatens the quality of public education for their children and grandchildren. Its just the latest example of this governments assault on all public services in BC."

-Bill 22 impacts all workers," said B.C. Federation of Labour President Jim Sinclair. -When the right to free collective bargaining is under attack, all unions will stand together to defend that right."

• Date: Tuesday, March 6, 2012
• Time: 11:00 am gather at Centennial Square, Victoria BC
• 12:00 pm Rally at the BC Legislature

Sinclair noted the government still has an opportunity to withdraw Bill 22 and start real negotiations with teachers. -Real solutions to improving our public education system can only come through negotiation, not legislation."

-Not only does Bill 22 remove the right to free collective bargaining, it also removes any obligation on government to protect class sizes and to provide quality education programs tailored to individual student needs," Lambert said.

HSA members whose schedule allows them to participate in the rally are encouraged to join the rally to express their support.