Negotiations at a stand still for teachers
By Erin Perkins
A new year, but not a new leaf for the B.C. Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) and their contract talks with the provinicial government.
The B.C. Public School Employers’ Association (BCPSEA) and the BCTF returned to the bargaining table after the Christmas break on Thursday, Jan. 5 but nothing new has been proposed, said Boundary District Teachers’ Association president Norm Sabourin.
The meetings will continue on a weekly basis until an agreement has been reached. Teachers have been without a contract since June 2011 and have been in negotiations with the government since March. Now they are nearing the one-year mark, Sabourin isn’t sure what to expect over the next few weeks.
“BCTF asks for counter proposals, but they very seldom come in,” said Sabourin. “BCPSEA keeps bringing up the net-zero mandate and they claim they are bound by it.”
The net-zero mandate, which is a zero increase in salaries, would, “widen the already huge gap between the salaries of teachers in the rest of the Western provinces .. a teacher in Alberta already makes about $20,000 a year more than a teacher with equivalent training and experience in BC,” states a BCTF news release.
The BCTF sees this mandate as disrespecting teachers and not valuing their contributions.
Besides wages, the issue of seniority is high on the concern list. Sabourin said BCPSEA wants to cut teachers autonomy rights, dictate professional development and have full control over hiring.
“BCPSEA expects the BCTF to concede to giving up hard fought union rights,” said Sabourin.
“It will be a popularity contest (when it comes to hiring) and it just isn’t right … they want to set up a system to easily get rid of soon to be retiring teachers.”
“There is a great deal of frustration over the government and BCPSEA and their lack of ability to bargain … They are having bargaining meetings but they are not bargaining.”
As part of job action, teachers will not be administering district or provincial final examinations in this district at the end of January. Nor will they be marking them unless all the administrators are being utilized and there are still exams to be marked.
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