Teachers React To ‘Fact-Finder’ Appointment
Prince George, BC – While the BC Federation of Teachers says it will fully engage in the process launched by Labour Minister Margaret MacDiarmid yesterday, the teachers have deep concerns the outcome of this ‘fact-finding’ mission may be pre-determined.
The Labour Minister appointed the assistant deputy minister of industrial relations to meet separately with the teachers and reps from the BC Public School Employers’ Association over the next week and a half and report back to the minister on February 23rd. Trevor Hughes is endeavouring to answer the question, "Can the two parties come to a voluntary settlement?"
BCTF President, Susan Lambert, says, "We certainly hop this is a genuine process, but we worry that it’s simply designed to pave the way to an imposed contract."
Lambert notes that the Education Ministry representative at the barganing table has repeatedly stated the government’s objectives are non-negotiable. Now, she says, "instead of going to an independent mediator who could have brought the two sides closer together, they’ve apppointed one of their own from within government to determine wheather a solution is possible."
Lambert says the teachers are ready to take the steps necessary to reach a fair and reasonable agreement, but says it’s time for the government to compromise and negotiate in good faith. She says if there’s goodwill on both sides, the answer to the question posed by this ‘mission’ will be yes.
Comments
I would be willing to bet that retired MLA’s such as Bruce Strachan still get their dental, full medical, extended medical and cost of living bonus paid. Apparently BC is the only province where seniors have to pay their medical. You are right, these things were part of a pension package that was included in the pension plan that was a condition of employment. Oh well, I’ll just keep lovin the government and paying my HST that was voted out.
Of course it will have a pre-determined outcome!
How could it not?
Regardless of who we bless and who we blame here…this is one very nasty government!
This will only help the teachers garner even more support.
For the B.C.Liberals,they just took a huge hit.
Call the election Christy Clark…it’s over!
BCGEU is in contract talks right now as well and things are not looking good there too. The gov must love to keep net zero increases for its employees.
Lambert says the teachers are ready to take the steps necessary to reach a fair and reasonable agreement,
Hahahahahahahahahahaha
Oh. Sorry
Hahahahahahahaaha
All you civil servants and govt types make too much money and get everything handed to you anyways. And now you want your medical paid for you even when you have a hefty pension. No wonder there are so many cutbacks.
But…..
All you corporate types can’t run a business on free enterprize alone. Demanding free enterprize is the way to go when it comes to profits but, quickly have their corporate hands in the governments pocket as soon as things don’t go sour.
No wonder there are so many cutbacks!
go sour
“But”: check out this comparison of British Columbia teacher salaries versus those in other provinces.
http://ominecaonline.com/wordpress/?p=197
If we want to keep quality teachers in BC for our children, we need to pay the rates that will attract and retain them.
Lets compare apples to apples and take off the rose colored glasses. Ontario can ill afford to pay their teachers what they are getting paid. Their debt has and is spiraling out of control. We as Canadians are all responsible for $20,000 each. 4,000 of that is Ontario
Off topic – but funny how the HST didn’t make Ontario the business mecca that it was supposed to, eh?
You gave a web site to compare wages. I say the extra $10-$11,000 the teachers are paid in Ontario is going directly to their debt for their grandchildren to pay. I say the extra $10-$11,000 the teachers in Alberta are paid is because they have very little debt and can afford more government expenditures. I don’t think it is off topic to correlate public wages with deficits and debt. If your tax base can’t cover the cost don’t spend it! No deficit!
Free enterprise is too expensive!
I say pay teachers baby sitter wages because that’s what they are, baby sitters.
So lets see what would it cost to pay teachers baby sitter wages. No paid breaks no paid holidays. Just the going daycare rate of 25.00 per day per kid. As a matter of fact the YMCA in PG charges about 30.00 per day per kid (44.75 for 9 hours. PER KID) . And lets not pay them for summer holidays or Christmas breaks or spring break. So about 9 months per year.
Average class 25 kids. 25×25=625.00 per day. 5 Days per week x625= 3125/week. 4 weeks per month X3125= 12500/month and they only get paid 9 months remember? 9×12500= 112,500. The average teacher makes no where near that amount of money.
So why are people willing to pay 895.00 per month per kid (YMCA PG daycare rates for 9 hour day) for baby sitting but not anywhere near that for the baby sitter they send them everyday to called school.
I say pay the teachers baby sitter wages because that’s what they really are.
“the extra $10-$11,000 the teachers in Alberta are paid is because they have very little debt”
And they have very little debt because we have to keep paying them royalties for the oil and gas mother nature gave them.
And they want to build a pipeline through our province ….. and they give us what for that? Nada!
Don’t we just love those blue eyed Sheiks of Saudi Oilberta next door?
“So why are people willing to pay 895.00 per month per kid (YMCA PG daycare rates for 9 hour day) for baby sitting but not anywhere near that for the baby sitter they send them everyday to called school.”
I’m just guessing …. but would it have anything to do with the fact that the babysitters at the Y or anywhere else for that matter do not get paid, but the operators of the Y who pay for their administration, building, furniture, supplies, etc.?
Just guessing. What do I know about such complex things, eh? ;-)
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