The withdrawal of extracurricular activities in schools across the province is being considered this weekend at the BC Teachers' Federation annual general meeting.
While the outcome of the meeting will not be known until after the weekend, teachers in Delta have already voted to consider gradually withdrawing all extracurricular activities.
"After spring break, teachers are going to be taking a long, hard look at all the extra work they're doing," said president of the Delta Teachers' Association, Paul Steer. "The first and most obvious things teachers are going to be asked to reconsider are all extracurricular sporting activities and the coaching they've done over the years."
The volunteer activities also include supervising clubs, band, and graduation ceremonies, Steer said.
Delta teachers are not alone. Teachers in the Okanagan Skaha region have also voted to withdraw volunteer services. The decision was a direct response to the passing of Bill 22 on Thursday, said Kevin Epp, president of the Okanagan Skaha Teachers' Union.
Bill 22, which came into effect on Saturday, bans further teachers' strikes, imposes a six-month cooling off period, and appoints a mediator to facilitate contract negotiations. B.C. teachers walked off the job for three days earlier this month.
"This legislation is so onerous, it cuts off any opportunity teachers have to stand up to the government in another way," Epp said. "This is the only way teachers feel they can let the message out there that the students and the system are going to suffer [because of Bill 22]."
Epp said teachers will not "slam the door on an activity that was three-quarters of the way through." Ongoing extracurricular activities will be wrapped up, and no new activities will be started, he said.
With files from CTV British Columbia's Michelle Brunoro.
