Dr. Charles Jago Appointed Mediator in Teachers Dispute
Wednesday, March 28, 2012 @ 11:49 AM
Prince George, B.C.- Former UNBC President Dr. Charles Jago, has been appointed to mediate the talks between the B.C. Teachers Federation and the BC Public School Employers’ Association.
Dr. Jago says when he was approached to take on this task of mediation, he gave it very careful consideration “I know the parties have been in dispute for some time and it’s very emotional, but hopefully as an educator and a person who has dealt with consensus building and problem solving over a number of years, I can bring something that will assist the parties to stabilize their relationship and benefit their members and most of all benefit the students who are being educated within our k-12 system.”
Dr. Jago does not have experience as a mediator in a labour dispute, “One would have to question the wisdom of the Government for appointing someone like me, but I do have related skills and maybe the fact that mediation hasn’t worked out very well in the past has influenced thinking that its timely to take a new approach. I am an educator, I can deal with the representatives from the BCTF as educator to educator and I have experience beyond my role in direct education, so it’s a shot in the dark if you like, but hopefully will work out to everybody’s benefit.”
“When I was first approached, I described this as mission impossible, so I think there are enormous barriers and the parties have not been able to agree in the past, and there is a sorry record of negotiations going back almost 20 years, so am I hopeful? I can’t say that I am, but will I give it an honest try? I can certainly say that I will do that.”
Dr. Jago has been at the bargaining table as an employer working on new contracts and has taken on other projects which others thought were “impossible” including developing a medical school at UNBC and securing a cancer centre for the North.
He has not yet had any conversations with the parties involved and hopes to have those conversations within the next day or so.
He says whether this process is successful depends on the two parties involved being “willing to engage and engage constructively” Jago goes on to say “I wouldn’t be doing this if I thought there was no hope.”
He will examine the outstanding issues, such as:
* Manner and consequences of class size and composition.
* Local-provincial split of bargaining issues.
* Effective feedback and evaluation of teachers to promote improvements.
* Alignment of professional development with teaching needs.
* Scheduling and selection of teachers suited to student needs.
Jago can help the parties arrive at compensation improvements, whether to wages or benefits, by looking for trade-offs within the contract but proposals cannot impose net additional costs on the employer.
The Province says Jago will have the resources he needs to fulfil his mandate, including the ability to engage support staff and independent advisors. The mediation period will run to the end of June. If there is no agreement, Jago will issue a report with non-binding recommendations.
The existing collective agreement remains in effect during the mediation.
Comments
level headed man
Big suprise, Susan Lambert has already come out blasting Mr Jago. Good luck sir, you are going to need it.
Disappointing that they are questioning Mr. Jago. He is of impeccable character. Losing sympathy from me. Looks like nothing can ever make some people happy.
My question is this. Who would you pick as a mediator Susan? Will the person be completely neutral?
Susan’s two choices were not available. Mao and Karl Marx….third choice would have been Peter Ewart:}
Get real . No one is going to satisfy the BCTF. As Lambert and her cronies are attempting to re-fight the last provincial election. They are not in this for the good of their students or their membership. It is a wing of the NDP party almost. Remember this at election time folks. Do people recall the rallies at the Multiplex the last time the NDP was in power – have you had enough! The fast ferry fiasco, the $400 million in provincial tax dollars sunk into Prince Rupert pulp mill and it never ran again due to the area being an NDP stronghold. Do you remember the FUDGIT BUDGET, Casino gate on and on and on.
here’s an idea,
let’s give the man a chance! Maybe he doesn’t have mediator experience, but he has succeeded in bringing a Cancer Centre to the north when EVERYONE said it either couldn’t or wouldn’t happen. He stood up in front of 7 thousand people at the multi plex and said he would bring a medical school to the north….and guess what, it happened! I don’t know how he did it…. but he did. Who knows, maybe he’s right, maybe having no experience will be an asset, a fresh look a fresh approach, clearly the old methods haven’t been successful so this can’t possibly make things worse.
Twinbell, it goes both ways. I dont think our current govt has much on their resumes to write home about.
I am just disappointed that it appears as if BCTF can never be satisfied. Apparently Dr. Jago donated to Liberal party at some point. Definitely raises the question of neutrality but where are they going to find anybody who is of unquestioned integrity?
One last thing, there are tons of teacher bashers voicing their opinions on here as well as many teacher supporters.
Remember that most people in this country had a CHOICE as to what they wished to do as a profession.
So if people are complaining about teacher salaries and vacations, perhaps that is an educational pursuit that you should have pursued.
And if teachers are complaining about the lack of support and recognition from government, it isn’t something new in our province. It has been constant in the teaching profession for last 30 years at least with BCTF and gov’t at each others necks. You had a choice as well.
“Independent” mediator donated $1000 to the liberals over the past few years.
Jago is probably looking for a nice plum job with the government when all is said and done.
Well good question Captain America, who would you pick Susan Lambert?
We will never know as the BC Liberals were the one and only ones allowed to pick the referee.
Not only the BC Liberals get to pick the referee they also get to pick the final score, net zero.
Looks like Susan Lambert has every right to question the process.
I am not a teacher but if the same rules applied to me in any facet of life, I like susan Lambert would not be happy either.
Oh oh… somebody got Taxed Out rolling again.
Watch out, he might call you a racist for disagreeing with his views.
You know the story JohnnyBelt, I have only called one guy for what he is on here. He was already on a different thread today showing his true colors by calling me racial names.
I would like to know how someone who donated $1000 to the liberal party be impartial. Unless he donated $$ to the BCTF too :)
I think it speaks well of the quality of people we have here in Northern BC that one of our own has been asked to take this on. Good luck Dr. Jago. I would love to be a fly on the wall…
Unfortunately it is the world we live in. Govt picks the mediator. We all get our chance to vote soon enough.
Only NDP donators and non-Shari Green donators are allowed to be impartial.
Good luck Sir you will need it, im sure you can do it
Point of clarity:
when asked about the donation to the Liberal Party on a media conference call today, Dr. Jago said:
“Those donations I made were donations I made to participate in a golf tournament and I was initially paying for myself and the other members of the foursome, generally I have not donated to Provincial political parties and those donations were for participation in a golf tournament” He later added that he paid the entry fee to “expedite their entry” and the other members of the foursome reimbursed him for their registration fees ($125. each) and that this money was for two golf tournaments over two years.
-Elaine Macdonald
So would that be in a “raise money for the Liberal party” golf tournament, Editor?
Maybe he likes to play golf.
All of the outstanding issues that Jago will be looking at are things that have been stripped from the teachers’ contract under Bill 22. Kind of silly, isn’t it, that the only hope teachers have is to maybe, possibly, get some of the things put back in contract after they had been stripped? A few years ago, teachers gave up the request for a wage increase in order to get some of these things put in contract because they wanted to improve conditions for students, and now, lo and behold, still no wage increase, and the things that had previously been put into contract have been stripped out, and they are depending on a mediator to determine whether they should go back in.
Well I guess I asked the question whether it was “raise money for the Liberal party” golf tournament, as there seems to be a connection of the tournament and a donation to the Liberal party.
winteranz
I believe in the last contract there was a salary increase along with a signing bonus.
I could be wrong. It happened once before.
Taxed Out!
I can’t imagine an educator doing anything to contribute to the Liberal Party. Aren’t they all pro NDP?
boomer:
I believe you are correct about the last contract. The one I was referring to was a previous contract, when all of those working/learning conditions were negotiated,(either 2006 or 2002). Salary requests were given up in order to achieve many of the things that were just stripped by Bill 22.
I see Shirley bond has been tramping all over teachers since she became a liberal MLA. When she was with the school board she was all about helping teachers and students. It is truly astonishing how fast ones prioritys vanish when their pay cheque gets larger. She is is still beaking off about students but has done nothing but damage to the whole system by kissing Gordo’s butt.
Hey supertech, Gordo is long gone. Where have you been?
Dr. Jago has been a solid Liberal supporter.
His reward is the many $ per day to “mediate”— or keep repeating that there is no money for a raise.
The way it is going for people ( except the MLA’s who gave themselves a 29% raise) we are getting closer to the 1930’s.
The cost of living keeps getting higher, especially gasoline.Then there is the HST added to kids sports and dance lessons, etc.
Posted by: karrman on March 28 2012 10:42 PM
“The way it is going for people ( except the MLA’s who gave themselves a 29% raise) we are getting closer to the 1930’s.”.
Out of curiousity, how many % increase are the teachers suggesting?
It really is too bad the MLA’S just couldn’t give up their 29% raise and put it in the kitty for the well deserving teachers.
Maybe Trevor Linden is available. or better yet, Tiger Williams
Flowerchild: While I am sure that Mr. Jago was instrumental in bringing the medical school and cancer clinic to PG, let’s remember that a lot of other folks were involved too.
All the best to Mr. Jago, he has a job ahead of him, riding herd on this emotional issue.
metalman.
I ha heard that teacher’s starting point for a raise was 3 tears, 5-5-5. The gov’t started at 0-0-0 and atayed there.A couple of teachers told me 3-3-3 or 2-2-2 would have settled t5he salary issue, butthey’re still angry that the classroom limits etc that were negotiated on settled on over a decade ago were illegally remoived by the Liberals—-the illegal part really is an issue.
What gets me with this squabble is it takes people’s focus off such things as the BC Rail the –sale and the $6 mil the Liberal gov’t paid in legal fees —-hush money for a guilty plea and no trial ?
Shipping raw logs while we close mills doesn’t seem like a great idea to me.
Building the two new ferries in Germany sent a lot of jobs and tax money to pe — no shipyards in BC were asked to bid. All the other ferries (except the Pr. Rupert ferry ) were built in Vancouver and Victoria. That’s alot of jobs.
Then there’s the HST .
I’ve come to really dislike this gov’t.
Surefire: “It really is too bad the MLA’S just couldn’t give up their 29% raise and put it in the kitty for the well deserving teachers. “
Considering there’s approximately 40,000 BCTF members, the money that would come from such a gesture would cover about 0.05% of what the teachers are asking for. What else have you got?
I thought this wasn’t about more money for the teachers? Do you mean to tell me that the BCTF is lying to us?
I’m not sure I see the connection between raw logs and lining the pockets of the province’s teachers.
Mr Jago worked for the BC Liberals and submitted a progress report on public education in BC in 2006. Seems unlikely that the BC Liberals would appoint a man like this if the report he submitted didn’t go along with the BC Liberal agenda.
No they are not lying to you faxman!
The BCTF has had a cost of living increase right from the start. The BCTF has also asked in its plea to negotiate with the BC Liberals that learning conditions improve for the kids.
If you are looking for liars perhaps look to the 2009 election as a majority of liars were elected as MLA’s.
faxman
“.. the connection between raw logs ….”
it’s about jobs and tax base.
this is a resource rich province, and I believe that we could use our resources to a much greater advantage…. jobs in sawmills that are in BC, not China.
Dr. Charles Jago, you have taken on an enormous task. I know you will do your best at it and hopefully bring to resolution, this very frustrating dispute. I do believe you will be impartial and fair in your recommendations. All the best to you sir. You certainly have my support.
“faxman
“.. the connection between raw logs ….”
it’s about jobs and tax base.
this is a resource rich province, and I believe that we could use our resources to a much greater advantage…. jobs in sawmills that are in BC, not China.”
There is only a small market for BC produced lumber. If no one is buying the product there is no point in making the product. We still get stumpage for logs that are shipped off shore.
” a small market for BC produced lumber…”
Quite an assumption.Where did you get that from?
What is the purpose of trade missions ?
Exporting raw logs is exporting jobs.
“” a small market for BC produced lumber…”
Quite an assumption.Where did you get that from?
What is the purpose of trade missions ?
Exporting raw logs is exporting jobs.”
You’re confusing the market for logs with the market for lumber products. Our lumber products have seen a decrease in demand for several years now while the demand for our logs is ever increasing. People (read: the Chinese) can produce lumber from our logs cheaper than we can.
The purpose of the trade missions is to sell our products. It’s unfortunate that one of the main products for sale is our raw logs. It would be great if the Chinese wanted our 2 by 4’s but they don’t. I really don’t see that changing. And subsidies are not the answer as evidenced by the soft wood lumber dispute with the States.
As for you statement that, “Exporting logs in exporting jobs.” I have to disagree. Those jobs are disappearing because no one wants to buy the product.
It’s an old and possibly overused argument but if you really want to keep jobs in Canada stop buying crap from places like WalMart. If you want Canadian made products you’re going to have to pay for them.
Bang on faxman. Good post.
“If you want Canadian made products you’re going to have to pay for them.”
So we close our borders.
Do like other countries do who are faced with the same problem, compete with high end products while we still can.
Compete with providing high end services, not just products.
Follow the sale of a T-shirt at a box store through from production at a few dollars a shirt, to shipping at a few cents a shirt, marketing by the wholesaler at a buck or so a shirt, ….. that is the kind of money that goes to an offshore manufacturer …… the rest goes to shipping handlers, distributers, marketers, store sales and maintenance staff, owners, shareholders, taxes, construction companies who build the stores, owner/shareholder, lawyers, accountants, profits, etc. etc.
In some cases it is simply not worthwhile to manufacture toothpicks when you can make more money after they leave the manufacturer.
“Our lumber products have seen a decrease in demand for several years”
Yes, from has virtually been a single client, the USA.
The market for wood products is the whole world. We are just not willing to compete or unable to compete perhaps due to man-made trade agreements in place.
Do you really think that the wood systems buildings that are built in Central and Northern Europe are less expensive than similar products that could be manufactured in Canada from our local woods?
Faxman–I believe that a good chunk of the raw logs being exported have been cut on private lands and are not subject to stumpage fees.
Both the Teachers Federation AND the BC government both paying Mr. J? Hmmm? Whose side wold I be on?
How much does this gig pay?
Jago gets $2000/day for 90 days….$180,000, not bad for a guy who has no prior experience in mediation.
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