The provincial government has softened its stance on the teachers’ contract — slightly. Whether that will convince the B.C. Teachers Federation to negotiate, rather than disrupt the education system with a series of strikes, remains to be seen.
A bill introduced Tuesday in the Legislature calls for a cooling-off period, appointment of a mediator and a ban on any strikes, with significant financial penalties to both individuals and the BCTF if there are work stoppages during that six-month period.
The bill was introduced just a short time after the Labour Relations Board said the union could withdraw services for a three-day period in one week, if it gives students, parents and school districts 48 hours notice. The union could also withdraw services for one day each week after that initial strike.
It is obvious that neither the government nor the BCTF plan to back down, although it is significant that the government bill calls for mediation, something that Education Minister George Abbott rejected a week ago.
A solution at the bargaining table would be preferable to an imposed settlement. While it is unlikely the BCTF will easily agree to anything it sees as concessionary, the government’s stated goal of reaching a “net zero” settlement is not unreasonable. The government is under significant financial pressure and other employee groups are willing to work under such a monetary limit, including school support staff who just ratified such an agreement.
The union’s insistence that the government address class size and composition has been heard, sort of. The mediator will have the power to make recommendations on these issues, which impose significant challenges on both teachers and students. In addition, the government is making additional funds available to address these issues, as required by a court ruling last year. However, there will be no negotiation with the BCTF on these issues until 2013.
Unfortunately, all the uproar over this contract has had a significant effect on students in the classroom this year, despite BCTF claims to the contrary. Students and parents have not received report cards and there has been little collaboration with administrators. Rotating strikes will do nothing to rectify the fact that some students are suffering as a result of this protracted exercise in sabre-rattling.