The BCTF (British Columbia Teacher Union) is asking the Province for fair negotiations to their new contract. They have started job action to pressure the Province into reasonable negotiations.
They ask that parents support them as they fight for decent public education. Parents are encouraged to write letters - see below.
More information on the BCTF website. Hit the red "Bargaining Updates" button.

How does job action affect school?

They are maintaining all teaching duties during job action, including student assessment.
They will not engage in report cards, collecting forms and cash from students e.g. field trips, meet with the administration, do playground supervision.
Some teachers are still running after school classes on a volunteer basis.

What are teachers demanding from the Province?

1. Restoration of reasonable class size and composition.
The language in their contract restricting class size and composition (e.g the number of special needs students in a class) was removed in past years. Legal action is in progress to question the legality of this contract stripping. The teachers ask that it is restored.

2. Increase in pay to match nation-wide teachers salaries.
They are the 8th lowest paid teachers in the country, and have had no improvement in benefits for 18 years.

3. Allow local bargaining.
In Vancouver, we need to negotiate on ESL and special needs student issues. Elsewhere may need to bargain on bussing, or heating of teachers' houses next to the school. Teachers ask that local bargaining is possible.

Parents can support the teachers by writing letters

Write to The Minister of Education and Premier Clark.
Suggested letter from PAC attached below, but a letter in your own words about your own school is more powerful.