Thousands walk off the job in support of striking teachers

We Will Not Be Broken!

Despite government threats, thousands walked off the job in support of striking teachers on Monday. Businesses were up in arms at the refusal of BC workers to adhere to the law. "People must obey the law", Jerry Lampert from the Business Council of British Columbia warned, "or we are on the short or long road to anarchy in this province, and we just can't afford that". Lampert's comments, cited by speakers at the rally, provoked the laughter of thousands of striking teachers and their supporters. When faced with the gross disavowal of worker's rights, thousands have shown that the law is illegitimate not the strike.

We Will Not Be Broken!

Thousands walk off the job in support of striking teachers

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Despite government threats, thousands walked off the job in support of striking teachers on Monday. Businesses were up in arms at the refusal of BC workers to adhere to the law. "People must obey the law", Jerry Lampert from the Business Council of British Columbia warned, "or we are on the short or long road to anarchy in this province, and we just can't afford that". Lampert's comments, cited by speakers at the rally, provoked the laughter of thousands of striking teachers and their supporters. When faced with the gross disavowal of worker's rights, thousands have shown that the law is illegitimate not the strike.

Work sites were shut down through cross-picketing throughout the city, including unionized workers in both the public and private sectors. Busdrivers, mail carriers, and construction workers were just a few of the workers who joined the teachers in solidarity. NAF members took part, cross-picketing a number of sites. Posters were plastered across the downtown core calling for a general strike.

Despite the pelting rain, thousands of workers converged at Centennial Square and marched to the legislature for a large rally, with an intermittent refrain calling for a general strike. While the corporate media has grossly underestimated the numbers, the crowd may have been as large as 40,000. A series speakers followed, including Jinny Sims, president of the BC Teacher's Federation. "Recently, a person wrote that there is a big difference between breaking the law and having a law created to break you,'' she proclaimed, "We will not be broken''.

This week promises further large scale solidarity strikes and rallies across the province, culminating in a general strike on Monday, October 24 if the teachers' demands are not met. A facilitator was recently named to oversee talks between the striking teachers and the government, serving as an attempt to pacify an already inflamed situation. Meanwhile, on Friday the courts will be deciding the fate of the striking teachers. The court ruling freezing the BCTF's strike fund will expire on Thursday, opening up the union to large fines for their "illegal" actions.

NAF members distributed thousands of leaflets calling for workers and community members to come together in popular assemblies, working through directly democratic processes to help build momentum in these next few critical days. A public assembly is being organized for Sunday to help build popular strategies in support of the striking teachers.

By the Northwest Anarchist Federation