The Editor:
Re. "SD43 launching own back-to-class push" (The Tri-City News, Aug. 8).
Why would School District 43 trustees hire a consultant to duplicate the work their provincial organization is performing? The district pays dues to the BC School Trustees Association to perform such tasks on their behalf. There is no need to provide awareness to the public that there is a labour dispute between the provincial government and public school teachers.
Both local newspapers have done a fine job providing updated information. Do these trustees believe the provincial government or the teachers take direction from trustees?
The final deal will be negotiated at the bargaining table, which is taking place right now. If the trustees were going to run a campaign, it should be done by their own staff and probably earlier in the summer, before talks resumed.
Imagine running a campaign without knowing the costs or providing the costs to the taxpayers. Is there really a concern that big box stores are worried about selling school supplies?
At least Coquitlam council did its part weeks ago at no cost. I wonder how the advocacy campaign, started months ago to meet with the government, is going. There must be an election on the horizon.
Dave Ginter, president, CUPE Local 561
