Labour leaders in British Columbia are expected to announce later today financial aid for the province's striking teachers, who will themselves take a vote on binding arbitration.
The B.C. Federation of Labour and the B.C. Nurses' Union are expected to make separate announcements of support for teachers who began a full-scale strike back in June.
The union for BC Hydro workers also asked its membership this week to set aside $100,000 in collateral from its reserves so the B.C. Teachers' Federation can secure a loan.
Thirteen B.C. union leaders wrote Premier Christy Clark on Tuesday urging the government to accept the BCTF's proposal to end the impasse with binding arbitration.
Teachers will vote today on their union's proposal to end the strike and reopen schools, although the government has flatly refused to entertain the third-party settlement method.
Finance Minister Mike de Jong said Tuesday the province is showing a surplus of $266 million, but he's not about to use that money to settle the dispute.
