The Burnaby Teachers' Association is holding its second "mark-in" in hopes of raising public awareness about the work teachers do, while the labour dispute with the provincial government drags on.
"We want more opportunities to speak to the public and help inform people about our job action and what we are trying to do to improve public education and get a fair deal for teachers so that we can do the best work with students," said Patrik Parkes, a grievance officer with the Burnaby Teachers' Association. "We want the government to bargain with us, honestly, which they aren't doing."
The mark-in will be on Jan. 18, from 4 to 6 p.m., in the food court at Metropolis at Metrotown. Teachers will buy something to eat, sit down and pull out their pens and paper to make a point about the work they do in private. They will have information on hand about the ongoing job action, bargaining and education issues, and they are hoping the public will approach and ask questions.
According to the association, the average teacher works about 50 hours a week.
The first teachers' mark-in was at Brentwood Town Centre in early December and drew roughly 50 participants.
"It was quite a popular event," said Parkes. "The teachers who attended it thought it was a good way to make a statement."
