Kamloops This Week
School did not begin as scheduled on Tuesday, Sept. 2, after talks between the B.C. Teachers’ Federation BCTF and the provincial government’s bargaining agent broke down yet again on the weekend.
On Saturday, Aug. 30, mediator Vince Ready walked away from talks with the teachers union and the B.C. Public School Employers’ Association, making it clear to both sides “fundamental barriers” remain in his effort to find a way to a tentative agreement on a contract.
Ready told media he’s willing to meet with the two sides again but more work has to be done to bring them closer to an agreement.
The main stumbling block remains the government’s insistence on an opt-out clause based on whatever the B.C. Supreme Court may rule on the second government appeal of court decisions declaring government actions illegal.
Those appeals are related to then-education minister Christy Clark’s decision to void existing contracts and remove the B.C. Teachers’ Federation’s right to bargain class size and composition to a decision government would address through legislation. The government has twice lost that argument, with courts ruling the action violated teachers’ charter rights.
The most-recent court decision earlier this year confirming that viewpoint has been appealed by the government.
The provincial government wants a clause included in a contract that allows either side to opt out of the deal if they disagree with the court ruling.
For example, if the court again rules against the government, the government can opt out of the contract; if the court overturns the ruling that was in favour of the BCTF, the union can opt out of the contract.
“After two days of work with Vince Ready, it has become clear that the government is not prepared to find a fair settlement that will get B.C.’s students and teachers back in classrooms,” BCTF president Jim Iker said.
Iker said the teachers’ union reduced its proposal by $125 million, but claimed the government did not make any meaningful moves in return.
“Education Minister Peter Fassbender has said many times: “Let the courts decide.” And we agree entirely with that approach,” Iker said. “But, in reality, what they are insisting upon at the table would undo any future court decision.”
Iker said the BCPSEA offered no commitment to increase funding, nor was there any effort to move on salary.
As for Fassbender, the education minister could not see a scheduled start to the school year.
‘”I wish I could tell British Columbians when students will be back in school,” Fassbender said. “But, right now, I don’t see any quick or easy solutions.
“Legislating an end to the dispute is the wrong thing to do. It would only keep us on the same dysfunctional treadmill that we’ve been on for the past 30 years.”
Fassbender said BCTF compensation demands remain nearly double what 150,000 other B.C. public-sector union workers have settled for.
“They even insist on a special $5,000 signing bonus that no one else received,” Fassbender said. “The gap is much bigger than what the BCTF has been making it out to be, which was that the parties were close on all matters except class size and composition. Over the past few days, it’s been a very different story behind closed doors. Their demands would plunge B.C. into deficit. No mediator can bridge that kind of gap.”
Fassbender said the government has offered a six-year deal with a seven per cent salary increase, in addition to a seven per cent wage increase he said is in line with increases negotiated with other public-sector employees.
Fassbender said here has also been an offer of supports for classroom needs through the Learning Improvement Fund.