Shirley Bond on CBC. No plans to change school act. “It’s a matter of if, not when,” says Bond. See interview: Download file
Author Archives: cmenzies
End of Strike
Teachers across British Columbia have voted 77% to return to their classrooms tomorrow morning, confident in the knowledge that they have reasserted their rights and raised quality public education to the top of the political agenda. (Here is a nice analysis posted by ‘Red Cedar’ on Oct. 21.)BCTF President Jinny Sims and her Executive Committee voted to recommend acceptance of the settlement package crafted by Vince Ready. Clearly teachers shared their leaders’ view that now is the time to get back to work and begin a new stage in their ongoing advocacy for public education.
Of the 30,427 votes cast, 23,632 were yes and 6,795 were no.
“Teachers have voted by a large majority to end our campaign of civil disobedience and to return to work tomorrow,” Sims said. “We will do so with our heads held high, and our hearts touched by the many gestures of kindness and solidarity we have experienced in the past two weeks.”
B.C.’s 38,000 teachers walked out in protest of Bill 12 on October 7, and maintained picket lines at all public schools throughout the province for the next ten school days. About 25,000 CUPE members who work in the school system demonstrated solid support, along with other co-workers from the IUOE and BCGEU.
In addition, thousands of parents, students, and community members joined their teachers on the picket lines and at public rallies, often bringing cookies and coffee along with their good wishes. To the surprise of many political commentators, public support for the teachers remained strong even after the strike was declared illegal.
“We are so grateful for the support from the parents and students, as well as the outstanding solidarity of school support workers and teachers across Canada and even abroad,” said Sims.
“Thank you to everyone who was with us in this struggle to improve classroom conditions and reclaim workers’ rights. Together we have all learned the important lesson that citizens who take a collective stand can make positive change in our democracy,” Sims said.
Sims assured parents that teachers will be working hard to help students make up for lost time, and she is confident they won’t have problems catching up.
However, she said, the work of rebuilding working relationships between teachers and the provincial government will be a more difficult job.
“This government has enacted six pieces of legislation targeting teachers’ rights and profession,” Sims noted. “These actions have undermined our trust in this government.”
Sims said teachers will be watching and holding this government accountable for their promises to amend the School Act to include firm class-size limits for students in Grades 4 through 12, and to address the serious issues of class composition and support for students with special needs.
Tomorrow, Sims and three other BCTF representatives will attend the first meeting of the Learning Roundtable in Victoria.
“We will be bringing a clear message from the thousands of people with whom we have walked and talked these past two weeks,” Sims said. “British Columbians support teachers’ speaking out for students, they care deeply about the learning conditions in their children’s classrooms, and they want the government to reinvest in a strong and stable public school system.”
BCTF Press Releases
Breaking News
Hillary’s On Strike Blog has a nice overview from a rank and file teacher’s perspective of the recent developments.
Surrey Teacher’s Association Recommends No Vote Nine Reasons to Vote No Download file here.
President of Sunshine Coast T.A. gives his personal reasons for voting yes (Click here to read.)
Greater Victoria Teachers’ Association Exec not making a recommendation. See here for details.
Flag at Halfmast. From as long as it takes
Premier’s Office Recommends Unconditional Acceptance of Report.
At an early-morning news conference, meanwhile, B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell also said his government is prepared to accept the facilitator’s report unconditionally, calling it a “constructive framework” for education in the province.
Read the full story in The Globe and Mail
BCTF executive calls for conditional acceptance of the Ready Report. Speaking on CBC Radio this morning, Jinny Simms announced the executive’s decision. If the government will guarantee legislating class size and composition issues by June of 2006 Simms will reluctantly recommend acceptance.
“If they give to us, in writing, a commitment that before the end of June, they will put in place firm numbers in the School Act for grades 4 to 12, and address class composition in the School Act, then we will recommend to our membership, reluctantly, but we will, for our members to vote on Saturday and Sunday so that our students can be back at school on Monday morning.” Jinny Simms on CBC Radio this morning.
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Liberal’s true colours revealed: De Jong refuses to commit to amendments to School Act.
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One question comes to mind: Why wait until June 2006? It took the liberals less than a week to pass bill 12. I am sure that the passage of amendments to the School Act that enshrines appropriate class size limits and composition would pass easily and quickly.
Extend the school year!
Whether or not teachers’ accept the terms of the Ready Report we need to consider what will happen with the school year. As it stands, the government has won a windfall savings of close to $15 million a day. Let’s put that money to good use. Let’s extend the school year. If education is as essential as Mr. Campbell and Ms Bond say; if there has been such a crisis as Ms. Howland and the BCCPAC have claimed, then let’s do something about. Extend the school year. This way no student misses a precious day of school. Parents won’t mind about cutting into holiday time because we want our children to have the benefit of the maximum possible number of days at school. And, teachers won’t lose any pay in the long run.
Why not?
Highlights of the Ready Report
Highlights of the non-binding recommendations by facilitator Vince Ready to settle the B.C. teachers dispute:
The government should consult with the B.C. Teachers Federation about amending the School Act with respect to class size limits for Grades 4 to 12.
COMMENT The government could easily agree to this but still do next to nothing. To ‘consult with’ simply means that the government hold a meeting with the BCTF, listens to their thoughts, and . . . . There is not obligation to accommodate teachers’ input or concerns. There is no mechanism to ensure that real and meaningful amendments will follow or, if amendments do follow, that they will in fact address the very serious problems caused by the government’s stripping class size and composition language from the BCTF contract.
The B.C. government should provide additional funding of $20 million this year to the issue of class size and special needs students and consider retaining the increased funding in future.
COMMENT Any one time boast to funds leads to problems and disruption in following years if it is not written in as an ongoing budget item. But, $20 million doesn’t really go very far to solve this pressing problem. As a parent of a child who falls into this category I know that system is way under funded. Vancouver itself is millions of dollars underfunded in terms of special needs education alone.
The government should commit to fund $40 million towards harmonization of salary grids through the province. The parties will meet within 60 days of the return to work to determine how the funding will be applied.
COMMENT Harmonization is a nice thought. But how does that help a teacher living in the lowermainland or Kelowna, for example, who’s income is harmonized with a teacher living elsewhere? Given the high cost of housing in areas like the capital district, the lowermainland and the Okanogan, harmonization won’t really address cost of living impacts and the facts that most teachers have in real dollars lost income. Furthermore, if you factor in reduced services to education, increasing class sizes, and changes in class composition teachers have been taking a wage cut. So, harmonization seems a shallow and inadequate solution.
The government and the teachers federation should establish an ongoing process for regular communication on teaching issues, because the dispute “has highlighted a huge gap in avenues of communication between the BCTF and government.’
COMMENT This is one of those ‘no-brainers.’ Yes of course. We need to see how this will be accomplished though. Will there be some concrete examples?
Overall I feel disappointed by these recommendations. As a parent I have seen real and devastating impacts of the current government’s education policy. In their first contract for teachers they legislated cost increases but didn’t fund them. Then they legislated what amounts to a lock-out contract that caused a major walkout. The Ready Report, while it makes some moves toward improving public education, doesn’t really make the grade.
The BC Fed and Jim Sinclair need to keep on the pressure. As parents we need to maintain and expand our support of the teachers.
Charles Menzies
School Stalemate: How We Got Here (from The Tyee)
Mediator Vince Ready threw up his hands yesterday and declared the teachers and the province are “just too far apart to come to a facilitated agreement or any kind of a negotiated agreement.” He cancelled discussions and made non-binding recommendations to both parties.
Breaking News
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
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
Vancouver Rally: Friday October 21
FRIDAY, OCT. 21, 2005 – THERE WILL BE A RALLY AT THE PNE COLLESIUM at 10:00 AM. Details to follow.
Teachers propose solutions; government remains entrenched
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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