Uses of Illegal Strikes by BC Teachers, 1919-2005

Abstract

This article examines the role of illegal and semi-legal strikes in shaping the political and organizational trajectory of the British Columbia Teachers’ Federation (BCTF), with particular attention to the October 7, 2005 province-wide walkout. Defying both provincial legislation and a pre-emptive court injunction, teachers engaged in high-risk collective action against austerity policies under Premier Gordon Campbell. Situating this and four earlier strikes within a broader historical framework, the article argues that such actions marked key turning points in the transformation of teachers from professional employees into militant trade unionists. Drawing on E.P. Thompson’s concept of the “moral economy,” it contends that teachers’ resistance is driven less by material deprivation than by perceived violations of social and professional norms. Illegal strikes, while risky, foster solidarity, politicization and organizational strength, ultimately expanding labour rights and reinforcing teachers’ capacity to challenge state authority and defend public education.