VANCOUVER - British Columbia Premier Christy Clark is urging the province's teachers' union to suspend its strike and get back to the bargaining table so students can start school.
Clark weighed in on the labour dispute for the first time since teachers began a full-scale strike in June, leaving half a million students out of the classroom.
The premier says the teachers' union needs to come to the table with a fair wage proposal, adding it's not realistic to demand a $5,000 signing bonus.
Clark says teachers deserve a raise, but noted that the agreement has to be fair to taxpayers and other public-sector workers who have already signed contracts.
She says she believes the animosity prevalent during the dispute can be overcome as long as emotions are set aside.
Contract negotiations between the B.C. Teachers' Federation and the government's bargaining team are at a standstill two days after what was supposed to be the start of school and no new talks are scheduled.
