LRB Could Rule on Jago Role Early This Week
Monday, April 16, 2012 @ 3:58 AM
Prince George, B.C.- The BC Labour Relations Board is expected to deliver a ruling on the mediator issue in the teachers dispute early this week. Education Minister George Abbott, also says there is also a possibility the issue could to the BC Supreme Court for resolution.
The BC Teachers Federation has criticized the appointment of Dr. Jago as mediator on the grounds that there is an “apprehension of bias” regarding his role. Specifically, the BCTF points to a research paper that Dr. Jago wrote or the BC Progress Board in 2006 which is critical of teachers’ seniority rights – a contested issue during the current contract negotiations. In addition, Dr. Jago has acknowledged that he had a role in “wordsmithing” the text of Bill 22, which the teachers consider to be a draconian, anti-teacher piece of legislation. It is for those reasons the BCTF filed a complaint with the Labour Relations Board in a bid to have Dr. Jago removed from the position as mediator.
The Education Minister continues to express strong support for his appointment of Dr. Charles Jago as, citing his record as president of UNBC and recipient of the Order of Canada. Dr. Jago’s role would be as a mediator, Abbott pointed out, rather than an arbitrator. His role would be to bring together parties that have been locked in an “intractable” dispute for over a year now.
The teachers have not yet met with Dr. Jago to discuss any of their outstanding contract issues.
Abbott says there was never any harm in “sitting down and exploring issues,” and that the process hadn’t even been tried yet in this current dispute, but adds, he is “not sure that anyone can be forced to come to the bargaining table.”
In the mediation process, any recommendations from Dr. Jago would be non-binding. However, under Bill 22, the government has the authority to impose a settlement on the teachers after June 30th.
Comments
Abbott gives away the Liberal strategy.
1) Plant Jago, a Liberal supporter, realizing full-well Teachers will not accept a Liberal hand-picked appointee with party ties.
2) Any recommendations he makes will be non-binding since the gov’t can impose the contract they want.
3) Impose legislation they’ve already written up.
4) Disregard BC Supreme Court rulings on Bills 27/28 with illegal clauses in Bill 22 that purport court rulings are non-binding post 2002. (Holy illegal over-reach, Batman!)
5) Publicly state the BC Labour Relations Board has no jurisdiction over labour mediations. “How dare the BC LRB rule on Jago when the Liberals hand picked him in Feb before teachers even made suggestions (asked for by the Liberals)
And the Liberals wonder why they’re at 23% and falling in the polls?? It is because they can’t run a Province as a responsible government that obeys the rule of law.
Mr. J. gonna get a “severance package”?
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