Monthly Archives: October 2005

Feed the teachers fund

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College educators refuse to let the provincial government starve out the teachers!MEDIA RELEASE
October 14, 2005

College educators set up “Feed the Teachers” fund

We’re not going to let the Provincial Government starve out teachers says Cindy Oliver, President of the Post-Secondary Educators.

Support for the BC teachers’ protest has spread to BC’s post-secondary
sector with an announcement today that the Federation of ost-Secondary
Educators (FPSE) has established a special fund to help feed teachers during this dispute.

“It’s clear that the provincial government is hoping to starve out BC
teachers and we’re not going to let that happen,” said Cindy Oliver,
President of the 10,000 member FPSE. “We have set aside an initial commitment of $200,000 to buy $50 food vouchers which we will be distributing to teachers who are fighting for a fair collective agreement,” said Oliver.

“Our plan is to get other unions in the post-secondary sector to contribute to this fund. We have talked this morning with our national organization, the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) and expect to get a firm commitment from them as to their contribution. We are also appealing to others in the BC labour movement to show their solidarity and support for what we have done. I hope that by next week we are in a position to announce more contributions to ensure that every teacher in BC understands just how
much we are prepared to do to help them win a fair collective agreement,” said Oliver.

“The Premier and his Cabinet colleagues have to understand that the longer they refuse to negotiate with BC teachers the longer this dispute will drag on. Teachers want a negotiated settlement and we need the government to show that it is prepared to let those negotiations happen,” Oliver concluded.

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For more information contact:
Phillip Legg, FPSE Communications at 604-873-8988
Or Cindy Oliver, FPSE President at 604-873-8988

March on the Legislature!

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BC Teachers’ Federation Rally and March on the Legislature Grounds
WHEN 11:00 – 2:45. Monday, October 17, 2005

DETAILSGather between 11:00 a.m. and 12:15 pm at Centennial Square. March down Government Street to the Legislature. Rally from 1:30 – 2:45 p.m.

Parents, Trustees, Union Sisters and Brothers and community groups are all invited to join in.

Download a poster for this event click here.

Location
11:00 AM -12:15 PM – Centennial Square
1:30 PM – 2:45 PM – Rally at the LegislatureLetter from sos-talk, the email list that originated in the Save Our School movement in 2002

We invite families to join us in our plans to march and rally at the Legislature on Monday – it will be the first Social Studies field trip of the year for our two sons. This is an excellent “first-hand” learning opportunity/teaching moment! In fact, we will join my parents and will represent three generations fighting for a quality public education system.

We originally grappled with the inconvenience, cost, time, etc. involved in making this trip, but concluded that after witnessing the steady erosion of services and opportunities for all students, and investing heavily personally in time and effort to fight for improved conditions and funding, if not now, when?

And, to all of you who are showing support for the teachers in myriad ways, thank you. I know the teachers on our school’s picket line are most appreciative and are bolstered by all of you!

Debbie Broadley

Breaking News! NO FINES!

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This entry outlines the three key sections of the Supreme Court Ruling (see below). There is very little actually stated in the ruling.

[8] The BCTF may use assets in the ordinary course of business, which would include such things as paying rent, wages to employees and other expenses it would normally pay. It may pay legal fees.

[9] The BCTF is restrained for 30 days from directly or indirectly using its assets to facilitate breach of the court order of October 6, 2005. In particular, the BCTF is enjoined from paying amounts to its members as “strike pay” or to otherwise compensate members for loss relating to breach of the order of October 6, 2005; from providing guarantees or promises to pay to protect members from such losses; from using its books records and offices to permit third parties to facilitate continuing breach of the court order. Either party may apply to extend or shorten this order.

[10] I am appointing a monitor to ensure that this order is obeyed. The monitor will have the following powers and duties:

(a) to have full access to all books and records of the BCTF, including all bank accounts of the BCTF and related entities;

(b) to review, on a daily basis, all payments made by the BCTF and related entities;

(c) to immediately report to the Court any payment or other activity which the monitor considers to be in breach of this order;

(d) to report to the court as requested with respect to the financial position of the BCTF and its compliance with this order;

(e) to appoint legal counsel as required and to obtain such assistance from time to time as the monitor may consider necessary in respect of its powers and duties.

A full text version of the Supreme Court Ruling can be found here.

Sunday’s ruling of contempt can be found here.

See also, CBC Coverage.

Judge orders B.C. teachers’ union to stop strike pay for illegal walkout

Steve Mertl
VANCOUVER (CP) – A B.C. Supreme Court judge rejected demands to levy heavy fines for an illegal strike by the province’s teachers Thursday, opting instead to handcuff the union’s ability to pay pickets.

Justice Brenda Brown essentially took control of the B.C. Teachers’ Federation’s assets and cash for 30 days to ensure neither union funds nor third-party donations can be used to pay strikers their $50-a-day picket pay.

Brown said the federation could still fund day-to-day business operations and its legal expenses but appointed a monitor to oversee the 38,000-member union’s finances to make sure her order is obeyed.

In a 2 1/2-hour hearing, a lawyer for the B.C. Public School Employers’ Association demanded the federation face significant and escalating fines for blatantly defying Brown’s weekend contempt-of-court ruling after the union went on strike Friday.

The B.C. Labour Relations Board ordered them back to work as the provincial legislature passed a law extending the teachers’ current contract until next June with no wage increase.

But federation president Jinny Sims said teachers would stay out of the classroom until the government negotiated a deal.

School Boards Backing Teachers!

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Prince Rupert School Board joins a growing number of districts call upon the government to withdraw Bill 12 and to allow meaningful negotiations to begin. From Vancouver, New Westminster, Vancouver Island, to the north coast school board trustees are telling the government to get with it and negotiate!

prtu.jpg
Source: Prince Rupert District Teachers Union

Here’s a list of some of the school boards backing teachers:
Vancouver, Surrey, Coquitlam, Greater Victoria, Central Okanagan, Burnaby, Vernon, New Westminster, Sunshine Coast, Powell River, Boundary, Prince Rupert, Sooke, Saanich, Quesnel, Gulf Islands, Cowichan, Alberni, Qualicum, Campbell River, Fraser Cascade, Fort Nelson, Southeast Kootenay, Revelstoke, Nicola-Similkameen, and Vancouver Island North.
Prince Rupert Teachers Backed by Trustees

Last night, teachers were joined by parents and community members in a rally outside the School Board Office to show support for teachers across the province. Messages of encouragement were presented by various organizations, including the B.C. Federation of Labour, the Local Labour Council, and the Retired Teachers Association.

Following the rally, Marty Bowles, along with Raegan Sawka, Erin Greene, and Joyce Dundas, presented the Trustees with a picture of our schools and why teachers have been forced to take a stand against Bill 12. Also in attendance during the presentation were a number of teachers, and our local MLA, Gary Coons.

The following motions were passed by the Board of Trustees:

To acknowledge and support the teachers of Prince Rupert and the rest of British Columbia in their determination to bargain a fair and reasonable collective agreement that addresses both working and learning conditions and salaries.
To call on the provincial government to set aside Bill 12 and allow meaningful negotiations to begin
To communicate the previous resolutions to the media and the provincial government, other school boards and the BCSTA, and BCPSEA.
To urge the government to return the only system that has worked efficiently and effectively in this province –that is local full scope bargaining.

The Board of Trustees will meet later in the week to discuss a motion to close all schools in School District 52 until such a time as teachers have voted in favour of returning to work.

Support our Teachers Demo @ UBC!

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Support our Teachers Demo @ UBC!
Attention UBC Faculty, Staff, Students.
A support demo is being organized for Thursday, October 13, at 9:00 am on the ‘grassy knoll just to the east of the Asian Centre and immediately below the Music Building (West Mall and Memorial Road).

This is a Vancouver School Site (The University Transition Program) and has an active picket line.

Click here for map.

Pass the word!

David Thompson Parent Advisory Committee

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Parents at Vancouver school, David Thompson Secondary, support teachers in the current struggle. PAC Chair, Cheryl Davies calls upon other PACs to make their voices heard too!Dear Minister Bond:

On behalf of the parents of David Thompson Secondary School in Vancouver, we would like to express our strong support for a negotiated settlement between the provincial government and the BCTF.

We understand that the provincial government has undertaken some steps to resolve the bargaining dispute that would engage the parties in dialogue. We urge you to develop and continue that path, as we believe that imposing settlements and legislation on the teachers of our province has only resulted in the depreciation and dishonoring of our public education system, and all those who contribute to it.

As parents, we are well aware of the significant financial and resource challenges that our teachers, school administrators and school boards face every year and, even more so, the (negative) impact on our children’s educational experiences. With each year, parents are being asked or compelled to contribute more financially, either out-of-pocket or through continuous fund-raising efforts, to make up for the shortfalls in financial support for curricular items or activities. We see our children in large classroom sizes, even where such numbers actually impede learning or even create safety concerns. We note physical deterioration of our school buildings, lack of equipment and books. Mostly, we see teachers who are feeling progressively undervalued, over-worked and underpaid. As our teachers are the backbone of our public education system, we find this situation deplorable.

We are upset that our teachers have been compelled to take illegal labour action in order to bring these issues to the serious attention of the provincial government. Indeed, our teachers have taken this action with full knowledge that there will be financial consequences to themselves both personally and at the union level. We respect and appreciate their honest and valiant efforts to voice and educate everyone about the important issues that are affecting our children’s education and their futures.

Please know that we stand behind our teachers and demand that the provincial government engage in a meaningful and productive dialogue with them to find a respectful and fair resolution to this bargaining dispute.

We will be paying close attention to the actions of government, and expect a just and expedient conclusion so that our children can resume their important educational process.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

David Thompson Parent Advisory Committee

Thousands rally in support of teachers

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Thousands rally in support of teachers in Vancouver and across the province. In Prince George teachers and parents joined forces to protest Minister Bond’s inactivity outside her constituency office. Here in Vancouver thousands gathered at Canada Place to listen to Jinny Sims and other Labour Leaders speak.

From our vantage point near the entrance to the Pan Pacific Hotel it wasn’t possible to see the speakers themselves through the large crowd. However, we could hear very clearly the passion, dedication, and commitment of Jinny Sims as she addressed the many people gathered in support of teachers.

Just in the small area around us I estimated that there were several hundred people. Why hard to guess from my particular vantage point I would hazard that somewhere between 4 and 5 thousand people were crowded into the plaza in front of Canada Place.

See also: Where the Blog has No Name. . . .

UBC Faculty Association Executive Motion in Support of Teachers!

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The following motion was passed unanimously at a meeting of the Faculty Association’s Executive Committee on Thursday 6 October 2005 and was sent to Premier Gordon Campbell, Minister Shirley Bond, Minister Mike DeJong and BCTF President Jinny Sims:

Be it resolved that the UBC Faculty Association communicates its support of British Columbia’s public school teachers who are on the eve of a full scale strike action to defend their rights to free, fair and democratic collective bargaining.

Be it further resolved that the Faculty Association calls upon the
Provincial Government to immediately withdraw Bill 12 and enter into direct negotiations with the British Columbia Teachers’ Federation.

Elliott Burnell on behalf of the Faculty Association Executive
[From email sent to membership. If you wish to express encouragement to the faculty Association for it’s stance email faculty@interchange.ubc.ca ]

The Western Regional of Conference of Faculty Associations has also passed a motion in support of teachers Oct. 14, 2005 2005 Western Regional of Conference of Faculty Associations
Empress Hotel
Victoria, BC

October 14, 2005

Honourable Gordon Campbell
Premier, Province of British Columbia
Parliament Buildings
Victoria, BC V8V 1X4

Via FAX Transmission – 1 Page – (250) 387-0087

Dear Premier Campbell,

I write to you on behalf of the delegates from 16 university faculty associations from across Western Canada who are meeting this weekend in Victoria at their annual conference. These delegates were dismayed to learn upon their arrival that your government and its agents have taken actions to restrict the bargaining rights of BC’s public school teachers and cut off their access to legitimate job action and public protest.

In response the delegates adopted the following resolution and asked that I convey it to you:

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the delegates to the 2005 Western Regional Conference of Faculty Associations express their support for and solidarity with the members of the BC Teachers’ Federation in their attempt to improve learning conditions for their students, to achieve a fair compensation package, and to regain free collective bargaining, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the delegates to the 2005 Western Regional Conference of Faculty Associations express to the Government of British Columbia their profound disappointment at the removal of collective bargaining rights from BC public school teachers, and the actions of the Government of British Columbia and its agents to constrain the legitimate political protest by public school teachers
against an unjust law.

Sincerely,

William Pfaffenberger, PhD
Chair
2005 Western Regional Conference of Faculty Associations

c: Mike De Jong, Minister of Labour and Citizens’ Services
Shirley Bond, Minster of Education
Jinny Sims, President, BC Teachers’ Federation