Many educators feeling anxious about their financial situation: teachers’ association
Posted August 28, 2014 7:47 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – How tough would it be for your family if you didn’t know when your next paycheque was coming?
This is the reality for 40,000 teachers in BC, as they wait for a deal to be negotiated between the BCTF and the government. The two sides are set to meet with a mediator today.
Jennifer Wadge, president of the Surrey Teachers’ Association, says she is hearing from many who are feeling very anxious and nervous about the situation.
“I am definitely hearing from a lot of members who are really suffering financially right now and because their budgets are already strapped, it just becomes really difficult to even do things like buying food never mind paying rent or other bills.”
Wadge says the food bank they set up in June is very busy.
“Several hundred people, I would say… I don’t have exact numbers. But I know that say, on an average day throughout the summer, we would get between 20 and 30 people or families coming in to collect food, and those would be both teachers and support staff.”
Although Eric Hartmann has not used the food bank, the teacher of 18 years says this has been a very difficult period.
“It has been a challenge in the sense I had to dip into reserves and it has not been great trying to hang for survival so to speak and make sure that we are okay and my family is provided for,” he tells us.
The drama teacher and father says he has hope a deal can be reached very soon. “It is very stressful, you know scary to think that I cannot provide for my family.”
Wadge says the association handed out over $20,000 worth of food vouchers in June. She adds although they did not offer the service over the summer, if the strike continues into September, they will start giving them out again.
She says the association also spent $10,000 to help keep stocks in the food bank, but the labour has been a group effort.
Wadge notes teachers who are not struggling financially have come by to drop off money and/or food. She adds some have even dropped fruit and vegetables grown in their own garden, for the food bank.
Teachers went on a full scale strike on June 17, 2014. Classes are supposed to resume on Tuesday.
