UPDATED: Parties back to bargaining table; exam schedule released
By Nelson Daily Staff
Now that the war of words through the media between the B.C. Teachers’ Federdation and the bargaining agent for the BC Government, the B.C. Public School Employers’ Association, has died down, the two sides are apparently ready to go back to the bargaining table as more than 40,000 teachers spent time Tuesday on the picket line.
Tuesday was the first day of the province-wide full scale walkout by the BCTF.
Pickets were up in front of all schools in the Kootenay Lake District as teachers were joined by CUPE members on the line.
Ministry of Education Peter Fassbender released a statement regarding the strike.
The province also sent out a release regarding the exam schedule, that will proceed despite the full-scale walkout.
A reminder to students and parents that despite the British Columbia Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) strike, provincial exams for grades 10 to 12 are proceeding as scheduled and Grade 12 students can expect to receive their Official Transcript of Grades as per normal schedule and practice.
In anticipation of a full withdrawal of services by the BCTF, the British Columbia Public School Employers Association (BCPSEA) applied to the Labour Relations Board (LRB) last week to designate provincial exams and final marks for students in senior grades as essential services. The LRB announced its decision on June 12, 2014.
For grades 10 to 12 students:
- Expect secondary schools to be open only for the purpose of administering provincial exams.
- Provincial exams are proceeding as scheduled (see schedule below).
- Students writing exams are entitled to a picket-free entry into their schools.
- Normal school bus service will continue for the purpose of transporting students to provincial exams.
For Grade 12 students only:
- Grade 12 exams will be marked in July and the Official Transcript of Grades will be provided to students by the end of July as per normal practice and schedule.
For grades 10 and 11 students only:
- Report cards are not deemed an essential service and parents should not expect the usual year-end reporting.
- School districts will determine how to best convey relevant information about students’ progress, available class marks, and provincial exam results.
- BCPSEA is seeking further clarification from the LRB on the submission of class marks.
- Expect delays in the receiving information about final course grades.
- It is expected that grades 10 and 11 provincial exams will be marked by school administrators and the deadline for marking has been extended from June 26 to July 2, 2014.
Provincial exam courses to be administered June 16-26, 2014:
June 16-26*:
Apprenticeship and Workplace Mathematics 10
Foundations of Mathematics and Pre-Calculus 10
* Schools may schedule these sessions at any time during the week
June 18:
Science 10 (only for schools that require an early session)
Apprenticeship and Workplace Mathematics 10
June 19:
BC First Nations Studies 12
June 20:
English 12
English 10
First Peoples
Communications 12
Français langue première 10
June 23:
Français langue seconde-immersion 12
Français langue première 12
Science 10
Civic Studies 11
June 24:
English 12
First Peoples
English 10
Social Studies 11
BCTF ready for full strike Tuesday after two sides fail to reach agreement
There doesn’t appear to be a deal on the horizon in the labour dispute between the B.C. Teachers’ Federdation and the bargaining agent for the BC Government, the B.C. Public School Employers’ Association.
BCTF Jim Iker told the membership Monday morning via Livestream, despite teachers making significant moves with proposals, there is no settlement.
“Today, I want to speak directly to our BC Public School teachers, our proud members of the BCTF,” Iker said.
“I know many of you are watching today around the province at our study sessions and I hoped that you’d be looking to a potential settlement . . . but that didn’t happen.”
“Instead (Education Minister) Peter Fassbender, (Premier) Christy Clark and the government’s bargaining team actually squandered an opportunity to get our BC students back to schools,” Iker added.
Iker said the BCTF cut its wage demands to eight percent over a five-year term with a larger signing bonus, $5,000.
The BCTF bargaining committee also tabled to education fund to address class size, composition and staffing levels for specialist teachers while the parties wait for the government’s appeal of a recent BC Supreme Court case.
Iker said this fund would bring new government money to the districts, which is allocated by district staff and local teacher union reps, where it’s needed most and if there is any disagreements the matter would be given to an independent third party for binding resolution.
“This is a fair and reasonable way to address class size, composition and staffing levels, Iker explained.
Iker said the BCTF gave this bargaining package to the employer Friday, and waited until Sunday before hearing a reply to which the BCPSEA rolled back its wage package from six years from 7.25 percent to 7 percent.
B.C.’s public school teachers are set to go on strike Tuesday, but students aren’t in class Monday because the teachers’ union has called a province-wide study session.
Last Thursday, the BCTF served the required strike notice of 72 hours, after members voted last week 86 per cent in favour of escalating rotating strike action.
In addition to the study sessions, the teachers have planned a number of rallies around the province on Monday.
Monday morning, Minister Fassbender said the two sides met until midnight Sunday with no agreement.
“To say that they came close to an agreement would be an overstatement,” said Fassbender.
Iker said despite shutting down public schools in the province at a crucial time of the year when students are gearing up for exams, the BCTF has receive plenty of support from parents.
“I think we’ve had a lot of support from our parents,” he said.
“They understand what the issues are, they understand this government underfunds to the tune of $1,000 less per student than the Canadian average.
“They understand that we have the second worst funding across Canada next to Prince Edward Island. They see what happening in our schools. They support more support and resources and one on one time with our students.”
The BCPSEA won a recent ruling at the Labour Relations Board that designated provincial exams an essential service guaranteeing high school students their final grades.
The ruling states the following services have now been deemed essential:
- Supervision of Grade 10-12 provincial exams.
- Provision of final grades for Grade 12 students no later than June 20.
- Carrying out of all tests scheduled to determine if a student should receive a special needs designation.
- Provision of all information needed to confirm or discontinue the designation for students in the intensive behaviour/serious mental illness category for the 2014-15 school year.
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