NDP ‘absent’ during teachers’ strike, Greens’ Weaver claims

What was said: B.C. Green party leader Andrew Weaver on Saturday caused an online storm when he tweeted that the NDP hadn’t been active during the 2014 teachers’ strike.

Quote: “BC NDP were completely absent during last strike as I spoke out, organized petitions, and worked hard to support public ed.” — Andrew Weaver, on Twitter.

Reality check: The 2014 teachers’ strike lasted six weeks and stretched during and beyond the summer vacation. It was bitter and acrimonious between the B.C. Teachers’ Federation and the governing B.C. Liberal party, but ended in a six-year deal, which was touted as the longest ever reached.

A review of news stories from the time shows the NDP was speaking up publicly. Then-education critic Rob Fleming was often quoted in the news, including calling for then-education minister Peter Fassbender to resign and criticizing the government for its plan to pay parents because their kids’ schools were closed.

Then-finance critic Carole James called on the government to accept the proposal by the teachers’ union to send the dispute to binding arbitration. And NDP leader John Horgan called for Christy Clark to get directly involved in the negotiations. Eventually, Clark did get involved and the six-year deal was reached.

A check of the legislative transcripts shows Fleming questioning the government on the teachers’ strike, including pressing them on locking teachers out during lunch hour and on class size and composition.

The same three NDP members and several others spoke at a BCTF rally for public education held Sept. 5 at Canada Place in Vancouver. “The single most important investment we can make is in our children,” Horgan said as he thanked teachers at the rally. “As B.C. Teachers’ Federation members, you all have rights that were hard fought for — do not give them up.”

Weaver’s statements appear to be largely unfounded.