Okanagan teachers walk off the job in day two of rotating strikes

WATCH: Bargaining continued Tuesday as teachers in the Central Okanagan were among those taking part in day two of rotating strikes. Aaron McArthur reports.

More than 12-hundred full time teachers in the Central Okanagan school district spent the day on the picket line as part of the second day of rotating job action in BC.

42 schools in the district were behind picket lines. 14 other school districts were also affected including Arrows Lake, Revelstoke and the North Okanagan-Shuswap district.

Local teachers are joining 40-thousand educators across the province in fighting for better class composition, smaller class sizes and better wages. They’re asking for 10.75 percent over

“The mood today like yesterday is really upbeat. We have lots of people and supportive honks going by and teachers are feeling good, ” says A BC Teachers’ Federation Spokesperson.

Glen Hansman is the first Vice-President with the BCTF. He says the two sides are negotiating but if no deal is reached more job action will take place next week.

“We want to get a deal on the table this spring. There is no reason to go into another school year with uncertainty and instability,” says Hansman.

Local school trustees also fear the impact should the dispute drag on.

‘I think both sides have to give in a little bit. Both sides will say they are bending and giving in but we know employers have said they are no longer asking for 10 years. They will go to 6 years. I don’t know if teachers can be flexible and compromise in some areas because I can’t see it being resolved if they just stick to what they are asking for,” says school board chair Moyra Baxter.

However, bargaining continued throughout Tuesday and no details were leaked to the public – a silver lining as the other school districts prepared for their day of job action.