Monthly Archives: October 2005

Breaking News

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Vince Ready’s ReportDownload file.

BCTF to hold province wide vote.
BC Liberal Government to consider report overnight.BCTF Report on the discussions with facilitator, Vince Ready
Source: BCTF

BACKGROUND

* On Monday night Vince Ready called the BCTF to say that he’d been appointed as a facilitator to promote discussions that could lead to a resolution of the dispute.
* The Full-Time Table Officers, supported by staff, met with Vince Ready four times over Tuesday and Wednesday.

PUBLIC GOVERNMENT RESPONSES

* Said they would not meet with teachers while we are on the protest lines.
* Would not admit that they were one of the parties working with Vince Ready.
* Premier and Minister of Labour spoke about changes to the School Act to make improvements.
* Acknowledged need to address class size and class composition.
* Reiterated that the round table on learning was the venue for learning conditions discussions.

GOVERNMENT POSITION IN THE DISCUSSIONS WITH READY

* No wage increase in a two-year agreement.
* No to a third year in this agreement.
* No to other forms of compensation, including benefit improvements and payment of Salary Indemnity Plan fee, although this is paid for most other public-sector workers.
* No contract language on learning conditions.
* Nothing that could be seen as rewarding teachers.

BCTF POSITION IN DISCUSSION WITH READY TO DATE

* Zero/zero mandate should not apply to teachers because teachers have paid a high price through the contract stripping in 2002.
* Were prepared to take 0% in the first year on salary, and work at other forms of compensation on the understanding that there would be a salary increase in the second and third years.
* Needed to see improvements for teachers on call.
* Must have class-size limits and class composition guarantees that are grievable.

BCTF PROPOSAL FOR RESOLUTION

BCTF representatives will be bringing the following elements for resolution into the discussion with Vince Ready today:

1. Amendments to the School Act to include:

– class-size limits for Grades 4-12 and limits for classes that have safety and exceptional learning issues, including the successful integration of students with special needs.

– staffing ratios for specialist teachers, such as teacher-librarians, counsellors, and learning assistance teachers.

2. Funding and a process for support for students with special needs that will:

– involve the school-based team (professionals working with the student’s parent).

– protect the confidentiality of the student.

3. a three-year agreement that provides stability to the system and allows time for relationships to improve.

4. salary and benefits improvements in years two and three of the agreement.

TEACHERS COMMITMENT AND DETERMINATION

These elements reflect teachers continued willingness to reach a resolution. We are determined to make improvements for students and for teachers, but we are also problem-solvers. We call on the government to work through the Ready process in the same spirit of co-operation. This is not the time for threats, inflexibility, or posturing.

Teachers are tremendously encouraged by public support. We thank the many, many parents and concerned community members who have expressed their support. We call on them once again to encourage government to acknowledge the best intention of teachers and needs that must be met in our public schools.

We are also heartened by the fact that over 40 school boards have called on the government to either repeal Bill 12, negotiate a settlement, and/or repeal Bill 12.

Teachers remain incredibly strong and determined to make improvements for students and to achieve a fair settlement for teachers. Our goal remains a settlement that meets the needs of students and teachers in this province.

For more information on the specific language being proposed by the Federation, contact your local office.

Kitsilano Secondary Parents Demonstrate Support for Teachers

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Students, parents and teachers are all hoping for a swift and and satisfactory outcome to the current labour dispute. Our support for the long-term working relationships in our school community is needed now more than ever.

Members of the Kitsilano school community–past and present– came out this morning to show their respect for the men and women who teach our children. Parents, grandparents, friends, teachers and even a handful of family pets joined a festive gathering on the picket line this morning.

While were were there a representative of the VSTA came to speak with striking teachers. She reported on the BCTF press conference. It was evident that the teachers on the line are very supportive of the actions of the union and their comments brought home to the rest of us the seriousness of this struggle.

One can’t help but feel that our government really has no interest in working with our teachers. Nor is one left with any idea that the government cares about public education in any fundamental way. What the government does seem to care about is winning at all cost.

But, a win at all cost approach is going to cost us the working people of this province. Political leaders and their behind the scenes backers can take joy rides in foreign countries but back home they act the school yard bully. We need to increase the pressure on this government and their backers. We need to keep the support on the line. If we are to keep our public education intact we will need to expand our support networks and stand beside our teachers on the line!

Charles

Teachers propose solutions; government remains entrenched

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Teachers propose solutions; government remains entrenched

In a bold bid to spark a more creative problem-solving approach to the current dispute, the B.C. Teachers’ Federation is taking the unusual step of releasing publicly its proposals for a solution.Federation President Jinny Sims said the BCTF is pleased that talks are continuing today with the assistance of Vince Ready, and she remains optimistic a settlement can be reached soon.

“We want to inform teachers, parents, and students of the BCTF’s willingness to seek common ground and find solutions that will work for teachers and students in our schools,” she said.

Below are the elements of settlement that teachers will be bringing to the process facilitated by Mr. Ready today.

1. Amendments to the School Act to include:

– class-size limits for Grades 4 through 12 and limits for classes that have safety and exceptional learning issues, including the successful integration of students with special needs.

– staffing ratios for specialist teachers, such as teacher-librarians, counsellors, and learning assistance teachers.

2. Funding and a process for support for students with special needs that will involve the school-based team (the professionals working with the student’s parent) and will protect the confidentiality of the student:

– a three-year agreement that provides stability to the system and allows time for relationships to improve.

– reasonable improvements in salary and benefits in years 2 and 3 of the agreement.

“These elements reflect teachers’ continued willingness to reach a resolution,” Sims said. “We are determined to make improvements for students and, but we are also problem-solvers.”

Sims called on the government representatives to work through the process with Mr. Ready in the same spirit of co-operation. “This is not the time for threats, inflexibility, or posturing,” she said.

Sims said teachers continue to be tremendously heartened by the strong public support they are receiving on the picket lines throughout B.C.

We are so grateful for the cards, cookies, coffee, and other expressions of support that have come from parents, students, and concerned citizens across the province,” Sims said.

“As well, our co-workers in CUPE have demonstrated outstanding solidarity, along with members of the BCGEU, and the IUOE. And of course, I also want to acknowledge all affiliates of the B.C. Federation of Labour for joining us in taking such a strong stand against Bill 12.”

Sims said teachers are also very encouraged by the fact that more than 40 school boards have urged the government to take actions including negotiating a settlement with teachers, repealing Bill 12, and even abolishing the B.C. Public School Employers’ Association.

Sims also spoke out to her own members, thanking them for their strength and courage. “Our teachers remain incredibly strong on the picket lines, and united in our determination to reach a settlement that meets the needs of students and teachers in this province,” Sims said. “We believe that this proposal is a solution.”

For more information, contact Nancy Knickerbocker, BCTF media relations officer, at
604-871-1881 (office) or 604-250-6775 (cell).

News Release October 20, 2005

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Vancouver Parent Demostrations Spread!

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Rallies and Demonstrations at Three Vancouver Schools Today, Thursday, October 20.
Parents Care; Teachers Care; Support our Teachers on the Line!
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Source:PRDTU

Kitsilano Parents to Rally at 10:00 am (see details in earlier entry)

Tyee Elementary Parents to Rally in Support of Teachers at 12:00 noon.
(Vancouver) Parents at Tyee Elementary School will be holding a rally to support striking teachers on Thursday, October 20.

Tyee parents are inviting others to join them at Tyee Elementary to show support and appreciation for teachers around the province – bring signs and noise makers.

Thursday October 20; 12:00 – 1:00pm
Tyee Elementary, 3525 Dumfries (19th and Knight)
(For more information please contact Helesia Luke at 778.858.0553)

Queen Victoria Elementary Parents to Rally at 2:30 pm, Thursday, October 20, 2:30 p.m.

Rally at the cul de sac on 4th, one block east of Commercial
If you are driving, please park on Victoria near 4th

Protest Songs and BBQ

BCCPAC Press Conference

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BCCPAC Press Conference
by Judith Ince

BCCPAC’s president, Kim Howland told a press conference today that, “BCCPAC members strongly agree that there was no crisis in public education until teachers went on strike. ” She said that because BC’s students continue to score highly on international tests, get into prestigious universities and graduate in increasing numbers, there is clearly no other crisis.

Moreover, she said, teachers are striking illegally and defying court orders; they should get back to work post-haste.The government’s responsiblity is to provide adequate resources for funding.

She reiterated BCCPAC’s opposition to class sizes being a part of the teachers’ contract.

A parent from Coquitlam said there has been violence against a teacher who does not support the strike; when pressed, however, he could give no details.

A student said because of the strike, she is missing her chance to apply to Harvard, Acadia, Oxford and Cambridge because she doesn’t have marks to submit.

Reporters asked the group some tough questions. Mike Bothwell (Citytv) said that although BCCPAC says it’s not choosing sides in this fight, Howland’s press release (not distributed to parents) echoed all the government’s main
points. Howland denied this.

Another reporter asked what BCCPAC has been doing for the past three years about growing class sizes and underfunding . Howland said the group has been “talking” about it to the government. I think it was this same reporter who suggested that her group seems to have been unsuccessful in persuading the government to give enough resources for, say, smaller classes. Howland said there is “no data” on the effects of underfunding.

Bothwell asked whether BCCPAC has been polling parents to find out their views. Howland said no, but she’s in “constant communication” with parents.

Howland said 40% of BCCPAC’s budget comes from the provincial government, but the rest rest comes from memberships.

As most of you can tell, there were some unfortunate errors and omissions in today’s press conference. The number of resolutions passed at BCCPAC AGMs urging the government to adequately fund education suggests that parents perceive a worsening financial crisis in education. BCCPAC laments the lack of “hard data” showing the effects of underfunding, but had it acted on a resolution passed in 2003 to track deficits in resources, it would now have two years of data on hand.

As to the funding of BCCPAC, the last Annual Report posted on its website says that 8%–not 60%–comes from membership fees. The Ministry of Education provides the larges chunk of funding (63%) as core and project-based funding. See Annual Report 2004 for details.

As a matter of interest, BCCPAC’s annual budget has jumped from $665,285 in
2001 2001 Annual Report to $853,361 in 2004, an increase of 28%.

Support our Teachers Teach-In (2)

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More than 500 people rallied on the steps of the Scarfe Building/Faculty of Education UBC at noon today in a show of support for BC’s public school teachers. Speakers from student, faculty, staff unions spoke out in support of the teachers. Vancouver teacher, Paul Orlowski, echoed many speakers when he called attention to the vested interest of Campbell and his business buddies. Teachers are standing up for a civil society in which opposition to an unjust law is a just action, Orlowski commented. The leaders of the three UBC CUPE locals spoke strongly in support of the teachers. They reminded the university that there are over 5,000 CUPE workers at UBC.

For pictures and additional info click here.

The Premier’s Office replies to letter of support:

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Even while negotiations are taking place, the premier’s office still sends out a blame the teachers message. The question is, is trust possible?
Charles
CampbellMug.jpg

Date: Wed, 19 Oct 2005 12:34:34 -0700
From: “OfficeofthePremier, Office PREM:EX”
Subject: RE: In Support of Teachers
To: “‘cmenzies@interchange.ubc.ca'”

Thank you for your email regarding the teachers’ dispute. . . . >Dowhatisay.png

Date: Wed, 19 Oct 2005 12:34:34 -0700
From: “OfficeofthePremier, Office PREM:EX”
Subject: RE: In Support of Teachers
To: “‘cmenzies@interchange.ubc.ca'”

Thank you for your email regarding the teachers’ dispute.

Last month, a fact-finder appointed to identify issues hindering negotiations determined that no reasonable possibility of a negotiated settlement exists. After eighteen months at the table and thirty-five
meetings, the British Columbia Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) and the British Columbia Public School Employers’ Association (BCPSEA) did not agree on a single item. In light of this, our government introduced the Teachers’ Collective Agreement Act. This Act extends teachers’ existing contract until June 30, 2006, at which time teachers will be able to seek a wage increase.

This will also give our government the opportunity to review teacher bargaining in British Columbia. The current bargaining model between the BCTF and BCPSEA has never resulted in a negotiated contract. Clearly, this is a dysfunctional structure in serious need of repair. We have appointed veteran mediator Vince Ready to lead an Industrial Inquiry Commission to recommend a new process for reaching collective agreements with teachers before bargaining resumes. The Wright Report, released in December 2004, provides a starting point for careful examination of this issue.

Pursuant to the Supreme Court of British Columbia’s ruling, we are imploring teachers to cease their illegal strike and return to their classrooms. We are willing to meet with union representatives to find solutions; however, we cannot do so as long as teachers remain in contempt of court. We are also urging the BCTF to accept our invitation to the Learning Roundtable, where all participants will have an opportunity to discuss class size, class composition, and other crucial issues related to learning conditions.

Our government supports teachers and remains unequivocally committed to providing students with the best possible public education. We have added $150 million this year to the education budget, which increases total education funding to more than $5 billion for the first time in our province’s history. We are interested in hearing teachers’ ideas on how to further improve our education system, and to this end, we are establishing a Teachers’ Congress to allow teachers to communicate directly with the provincial government.

Again, thank you for sharing your views with me on this important issue. Please visit www.mediaroom.gov.bc.ca/teacher_negotiations for the latest information.