EES EEE Newsstand Price 50¢ November 16, 1983 FOR A while it looked as though the conflict was threatening to split the province. While B.C. government employees, teachers and others picketed thelr offices and classrooms, parents responded with picket lines of their own. Some of the North Shore scenes, brought to an end by the dramatic eleventh-hour resolution to the dispute, included the below where parents picketed teachers picketing Lyan Valley School, letting the teachers know what they felt about their efforts. Saturday, a crowd that included Bill Flizer and Susan Petrina (closest to the camera) gathered out- side Westlynn Mall for a brief pro-government rally, Newsroom 985-2131 THE WAY TO RUN- OUR PROVINCE Classified 986-6222 a Election eve special: A26 THE VOICE OF NORTH AND WEST VANCOUVER TOL WEDNESDAY cloudy with showers THURSDAY cloudy with showers THEY'RE BACK ON THE JOB Teacher who crossed says her fears were unfounded NORTH SHORE teachers were among the 28,000 educators returning to work this week, following the announcement Sunday that a tentative agree- ment had been reached in the dispute between the B.C. Goverment Employees Union and the provin- cial government, with a truce also called between Operation Solidarity and the government. JOANNE McDONALD North and West Van- couver teachers showed over- whelming support for the BCGEDU suike with 97 per cent of the teachers in cach district walking out by last Thursday. According to the president of the West Van- couver Teachers Association, Heather Walker, the strike produced a positive effect among teachers. ‘There was a real sense of cooperation and = involve- ment The teachers really got to know each other,’’ said Walker ‘Of course, most of the parents wanted their kids in school cach day, with the picket lines setung up adver sarial feelings in some cases But then we also had some parents taking cookies and coffee to teachers, too One West Vancouver teacher caught in the crossfire oof the three day walkout said in an interview her initial fears of strained relations with her colleagues proved to be unfounded ‘It feels really good to be back at work sand Sheila Scasmith, kindergarten teaches at Westcot Elemen tary ‘‘It seems to me that now there is a timetable for teachers to look for We couldn't recognize our Negotiations before | Despite crossing the picket lines sect up November 8, Sex samith satd she cncountered some difficulty reaching her classroom on successive days However, she stressed her decision to cross the lines was completely her own, adding she had to ‘‘gratefully decline’ offers of help from some parents. “The parents were very supportive of what I'd done, and wanted to show me their thanks by helping me in the classroom or helping me get across the picket lines,’’ said Sexsmith. ‘‘But this was something I| felt 1! had to do myself °’ According to Walkers af fidavit issued by the West Vancouver superintendent's Office says only 1500 of the district's $,228 students reported tor classes on Tues- day, Nov &, with a mere 450 showing up for classes on November 9 She added only 11 teachers crossed the hnes on the first day of the strike, with fewer reporting on subsequent days The president of the North Vancouver Teachers Associa oon, Baill Fresen told the North Shore News he thought the BCGEU settle ment. along with the ratified North Vancouver teachers’ contract were positive siceps which proved to De “major factors in de-escalating any further confrontation ”' ‘The (North Vancouver) agreement provides for equitable treatment of the employces and also provides flexibility for the administra tton in managing the pro grams of the school district” said Friesen