LRB Declares Several Summer School Classes as Essential

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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A recent interim order issued by The Labour Relations Board has ruled several summer school classes as essential service, amid threats from teachers to strike picket through the summer as part of their strike in case a deal is not reached. The ruling alleged that Grade 10, 11, and 12 remedial courses would be deemed essential but classes would be restricted to students who failed the course and cannot take it during the following school year.

The Langley Teachers’ Association issued the ruling online after it was issued by the LRB on Friday and said that the management must use principals, vice-principals and other staff with a teaching certificate to teach these courses. On the other hand, the B.C. Teachers’ Federation has started a full-scaled strike action since June 27 and vows to picket summer schools if a new contract couldn’t be reached with the BC Public School Employers’ Association. 

According to the ruling, the school districts must provide their local BCTF representative with a list of students who need summer school by Wednesday, which will include only those students who failed a course and an assessment, and calculation of how many teachers are needed. Thereafter the two parties are set to meet on Thursday to make the arrangements necessary for summer school. In addition to that, the ruling also says that the government must remove any lockout provisions for teachers assigned to teach summer school classes, and any union members picketing outside must allow these teachers access to the school.