A veteran labour mediator waded into a bitter dispute between the British Columbia government and its teachers Thursday, meeting with both sides in what could be the most significant development in a strike that is threatening to derail the start of the school year.

BCTF says mediator Vince Ready will meet with their President Jim Iker and government’s chief negotiator Peter Cameron on Thursday. Until now, Ready refused to get involved because the two sides were too far apart.

With the beginning of the school year in jeopardy, B.C. Teachers' Federation President Jim Iker challenged the government to begin mediation tomorrow.