BC Teachers likely to take strike vote in June

[CarMa]

http://www.bctf.ca/NewsReleases.aspx?id=23166

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 27, 2011

Teacher representatives agree on June vote to launch job action in September

If there is a lack of progress in collective bargaining, teachers across British Columbia will take a strike vote between June 24 and 28, 2011.

BCTF President Susan Lambert emphasized that teachers do not take this decision lightly. The vote, to be supervised by the Labour Relations Board, will determine whether teachers will launch province-wide collective action with the start of the next school year in September. Initially the job action would involve teachers’ refusal to undertake administrative tasks or to attend unnecessary meetings, while focusing all their energies on the classroom.

"If we need to take this action in the fall we will begin by focusing on the central and joyful work of our profession—teaching our students," Lambert said. "Parents may not even notice much of a change as teachers intend to continue serving our students in the classroom and communicating with parents about students’ progress. However, we will not be doing administrative work or attending meetings with management."

Lambert emphasized that teachers want to achieve a negotiated settlement. Although the BCTF and its locals have been bargaining since the beginning of March, progress so far has been limited. "We’re facing resistance at both local and provincial tables, with the BC Public School Employers’ Association stalling on the split of issues and local trustees refusing to bargain anything of substance," Lambert said.

Meanwhile, teachers have identified clear objectives for this round of bargaining. Their top priorities include: improving teaching and learning conditions (class size and composition, caseloads, learning specialist ratios, and time for class preparation), a fair and reasonable compensation package including benefit improvements commensurate with teachers across Canada, and a return to local bargaining as the best solution to local issues.

Lambert noted that negotiations are taking place in the wake of a BC Supreme Court decision that ruled Liberal legislation which stripped teachers’ contracts and limited their ability to bargain is unconstitutional. The BCTF is urging the government to immediately restore funding levels to make up for the $275 million which was cut every year since 2002, when the legislation was imposed.

"We believe that Premier Clark now has an opportunity to make her "families first" agenda real by restoring funding to schools and services to students this September. After a decade of deteriorating conditions, students should come back to school in September as beneficiaries of the ruling that restores teachers’ bargaining rights," Lambert said.

[sooperphreek]

oh no!!! those evil union workers!!!

[intheknow]

oh no!!! those evil union workers!!!

unfortunely we have the poor overworked,underpaid union school teachers at the trough again holding everyone up for ransome(trying anyhow)

[Urbane]

CarMa, I hope this doesn't turn into a teacher-bashing thread because teachers don't deserve that. From my observations over the years I can say that the closer people are to seeing teachers at work, be it parents or students, the greater the support teachers receive. Teachers are not overpaid and anyone who actually understands the job of a teacher would acknowledge that it's a difficult and demanding job that goes far beyond the time spent in the classroom with students.

As you know I do have problems with some of the political strategies of the BCTF and I think that even contemplating job action at this time is not a wise decision. However, I won't belabour that point because my main reason for posting is to ask people to think before they contribute yet another teacher-bashing post. Thanks.

[intheknow]

CarMa, I hope this doesn't turn into a teacher-bashing thread because teachers don't deserve that. From my observations over the years I can say that the closer people are to seeing teachers at work, be it parents or students, the greater the support teachers receive. Teachers are not overpaid and anyone who actually understands the job of a teacher would acknowledge that it's a difficult and demanding job that goes far beyond the time spent in the classroom with students.

As you know I do have problems with some of the political strategies of the BCTF and I think that even contemplating job action at this time is not a wise decision. However, I won't belabour that point because my main reason for posting is to ask people to think before they contribute yet another teacher-bashing post. Thanks.

Look Teachers are paid as much or more than the jobs worth.There are more teachers than jobs available.WHY? Because
where can u make 75K per year (or more) with full pention and medical with holidays the like,s of teachers get.There is no risk
or bad weather to contend with.Everything is supplied to them for free.Yes they have to put up with poorly brought up kids
But over all teaching is pretty easy and well paid job these days.

[steven lloyd]

I hope this doesn't turn into a teacher-bashing thread because teachers don't deserve that. From my observations over the years I can say that the closer people are to seeing teachers at work, be it parents or students, the greater the support teachers receive. Teachers are not overpaid and anyone who actually understands the job of a teacher would acknowledge that it's a difficult and demanding job that goes far beyond the time spent in the classroom with students.

Well said.

... my main reason for posting is to ask people to think before they contribute yet another teacher-bashing post.

Good luck with that.

[RR24K]

No bashing from me, I'm interested to see how our new Premier handles herself. Teacher vs Government issues rarely go uneventful.

[UnknownResident]

Look Teachers are paid as much or more than the jobs worth.There are more teachers than jobs available.WHY? Because
where can u make 75K per year (or more) with full pention and medical with holidays the like,s of teachers get.There is no risk
or bad weather to contend with.Everything is supplied to them for free.Yes they have to put up with poorly brought up kids
But over all teaching is pretty easy and well paid job these days.

That was such a well-informed, educated post.


/end sarcasm.

[Glacier]

Given the potential loss of government revenue from the HST fiasco, teachers could be the first to suffer the consequences, unfortunately.

[flamingfingers]

I feel that this will be an acid test for Christy as to how she handles this situation considering her disastrous term as Minister of Education the last time she was in government. Should be interesting.

[RR24K]

There is 3 sides to this issue but only 2 are ever gets heard or dealt with. What's best for taxpayers or what's best for the teachers, the one that is most important to me and is never heard. What is best for each and every child & student in BC

[intheknow]

Look Teachers are paid as much or more than the jobs worth.There are more teachers than jobs available.WHY? Because
where can u make 75K per year (or more) with full pention and medical with holidays the like,s of teachers get.There is no risk
or bad weather to contend with.Everything is supplied to them for free.Yes they have to put up with poorly brought up kids
But over all teaching is pretty easy and well paid job these days.

That was such a well-informed, educated post.


/end sarcasm.

sometimes things and jobs etc are actually easier than what the union gerus want one to think.You happen to disagree and so be it.A teacher is not exactly like a nurse or doctor etc that actually saves your life.If there was a shortage of teachers and or was a rare commodity I may think different.However whenever you have more candadates than the job commands ! Well U already know what I beleive

[UnknownResident]

Well U already know what I beleive

That you're not informed enough on the issue to have an intelligent comment that adds to the discussion? Yes I do believe I have figured that out.

There is 3 sides to this issue but only 2 are ever gets heard or dealt with. What's best for taxpayers or what's best for the teachers, the one that is most important to me and is never heard. What is best for each and every child & student in BC

My hope is that the teachers are fighting for the kids more than (or at least as much as) themselves.

[Urbane]

Given the potential loss of government revenue from the HST fiasco, teachers could be the first to suffer the consequences, unfortunately.

That and the fact that contracts with other government workers already signed have resulted in 0% salary increases and apparently there are provisions to open those contracts if any other groups end up with raises. So the government simply can't afford to agree to salary increases for teachers. If the HST survives money will be scarce because of the "fix" that was announced recently and if the HST is extinguished money will be even more scarce. Not a good time to be negotiating a new contract with the provincial government.

[Urbane]

Well U already know what I beleive


Amazing. I posted a response to this. It was not an attack or inflamatory. It was not directly insuting. But it's gone.

Yes, I saw your comment and it was benign. Maybe it was a technical glitch of some sort because I can't imagine a moderator removing it.