Members of the Cranbrook Teacher's Association held a rally on Jan. 25, marching from the Heritage Inn to MLA for Kootenay-East Bill Bennett's office, where Wendy Turner, president of the CTA addressed the crowd.

"The teachers of Cranbrook need an independent voice," Turner said. "This government needs to negotiate, not legislate, a collective agreement with teachers."

Turner called on Bennett to bring the issue of the teacher's job action to the February session of the B.C. legislature.

"We need your independent voice speaking out for Cranbrook teachers," Turner said.

Turner said the teachers are seeking collective bargaining with their employer, the British Columbia Public Schools Employers Association (BCPSEA). A recent offer tabled by the teacher's union on January 17 was immediately rejected by education minister George Abbott, who toured Cranbrook's schools on January 27.

Glen Hansman, vice-president of the B.C. Teacher's Federation was touring the Kootenays last week, and attended the Cranbrook rally in support. He told the crowd that there were plenty of public funds spent elsewhere that could have been put into education.

"George Abbott continues to say we are absurd," Hansman said. "I get to look out my window and see a million dollar stadium roof - and it leaks. I can tell you that public education does not leak."

Hansman continued, saying the union could not concede to a zero-zero-zero contract, in light of concerns about class sizes and the lack of support for special needs students.

"Teachers know there are not enough supports for kids," he said. "We cannot accept zero, zero and a pack of concessions."

Turner spoke with the Townsman after Wednesday's rally to talk about the ongoing job action. She said the rally served two purposes: to support public education and draw attention to the lack of funding, and to support government bargaining in good faith.

The strike has continued through the 2011/12 school year, but Turner said teachers are still providing support for students, but have withdrawn some services such as administration and not attending staff meetings.

Teachers are also not handing out report cards for students, but Turner stresses that parents are still welcome to contact their child's teacher to talk about their progress.

All of those services have been declared non-essential by the Labour Relations Board, and so have been eliminated as part of job action.

"We've already had report card period, and teachers are not producing report cards," Turner said.

Frank Lento, SD5 board chair, told the Townsman that the strike has hurt students in the district.

"It's extremely disappointing from the board's perspective," he said. "Our students, ostensibly, are the losers in this situation."

Lento said he has watched relationships and school traditions deteriorate over the years as job action has gone on with every contract negotiation.

With semesters just finishing up in the Kootenays, students were once again sent home without proper report cards, however Turner said the administration has taken on sending out reports to parents. Lento said he is unsure what is actually being sent home with students, and how it will affect Grade 12 students.

"I don't know exactly what's going to happen to Grade 12s and their marks going into post secondary," Lento said.

Senior management and principals have been picking up the slack left behind by the striking teachers, and it is wearing on them. At the trustee board's upcoming February 10 meeting, Lento said they would be asking SD5 Superintendent Bill Gook to lay out some alternatives to help over-taxed administration.

As for parents, Lento said they have been mostly supportive of the teachers, but says he has noticed more agitation at local PAC meetings.

"The parents are as professional as anybody with how they deal with these situations," Lento said. "They're very supportive of the teachers."

Lento said there isn't much the board can do to help the process along, but they have sent along letters to their BCPSEA urging them to get together for bargaining.

"Unfortunately our hands are tied," he said. "We don't have any control over (it)."

Lento said he hopes things can be worked out in a timely manner, and that bargaining is restored whether it means a wage increase or not.

"Wages may not make teachers better, but it sure won't make them bitter."