With more than 99 per cent of the B.C. teachers' vote coming back in favour of the option, B.C. Teachers’ Federation President Jim Iker again renewed the call for the government to enter into binding arbitration to end the months-long teachers' strike.

"Tonight, B.C. teachers voted overwhelmingly to back to call for binding arbitration that would see an end to the strike and open our schools," Iker said, addressing a news conference just after 9:30 p.m. PT.

More than 30,000 B.C. teachers voted today, and over 99 per cent were in favour of using binding arbitration to end the current strike 3:13

Out of the province's roughly 41,000 teachers, 30,669 cast ballots in the BCTF's internal vote.

Iker said 30,490 of those ballots—99.4 per cent—came back as "yes" votes for binding arbitration.

"Tomorrow morning, custodial staff could be pulling chairs off desks, teachers could be setting up their classrooms, school counsellors could be finalizing their timetables … and classes could start this week and our children could be learning," he said.

More than 30,000 members of the BCTF voted today on a proposal to use binding arbitration to end their months-long strike. (Meera Bains/CBC)

The BCTF said earlier on Wednesday that it was expecting to have a strong "yes" mandate for binding arbitration on wages and benefits.

Under the proposal, issues around class size and composition would not go to arbitration, but would instead be resolved in an ongoing court case.

Iker said, the B.C. government's refusal to go to binding arbitration is now the only thing blocking that back-to-school reality from happening.

"We ask you again, to change your mind," he said.

On Tuesday, Finance Minister Mike de Jong confirmed the government was unwilling to hand over any part of the dispute to a third party to resolve.

Education Minister Peter Fassbender has repeatedly rejected the idea of binding arbitration, saying the only way the strike will be settled is through negotiations.

On Wednesday night, he reiterated that stance.

"The results of this vote were widely expected and understandable. We know B.C. teachers want schools re-opened. That is a goal we all share," he said in a written statement.

"As we have consistently made clear, binding arbitration would lead to unacceptable tax increases in this case. That's because the two sides remain too far apart on wages and benefits. The best way to resolve this labour dispute remains at the negotiating table," Fassbender said.

The teachers' strike took centre stage at an announcement about Maple Ridge becoming B.C.'s newest city 5:46

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