Surrey Teachers’ Strike 1974, Booklet
This booklet describes the details of a landmark one-day strike by the Surrey Teachers’ Association in 1974. With just 48-hours notice, 1,000 teachers voted to take their dispute with the Surrey School Board to the legislature in Victoria.
The strike stands as a landmark event in the history of the British Columbia Teachers’ Federation (BCTF). In late 1973, a newly-elected conservative school board in Surrey opted to prioritize taxpayer wants over student needs, proposing larger classes and the elimination of all vice-principal positions. This decision pushed the Surrey Teachers’ Association (STA) to its breaking point.
On February 13, 1974, after the board refused to restore a budget based on student needs, the STA leadership called an emergency general meeting. The following day, 1,000 of the 1,400 STA members gathered at Queen Elizabeth Secondary School, where a motion to strike on February 15 was overwhelmingly passed with fewer than five dissenting votes. This decisive action demonstrated the collective resolve of the teachers.
On February 15, Surrey teachers traveled to Victoria, where they massed on the legislature lawn. BCTF President Jim MacFarlan negotiated directly with Premier Dave Barrett. The teachers demanded a 2% reduction in class-size for three years, referencing a prior election promise. A deal was struck for a 1.5% reduction per year, which was later publicly committed to by the Education minister.
The strike secured the vice-principals’ jobs and led to a significant increase of over 4,000 teaching positions province-wide and a reduction in the provincial pupil-to-teacher ratio. This forceful stand by the teachers for quality public education marked a watershed moment for the BCTF.
This booklet was written by Peter Thompson in 2017 to coincide with the dedication of a heritage plaque recognizing the strike, and the 100th Anniversary of the BCTF. The plaque is located at 9030 King George Blvd, Surrey, BC.