oh i get it so punish the kids hmmmm

How are the kids being punished?

So, what do they want this time? More money and more time off?

Why does this happen every other year? Why even sign a deal if the previous one is not good enough? Why not wait until the end of June to negotiate? it’s not like they are working in July and August. It should be against the law to strike during the school year.

Teachers are spreading the under-pay over work attitude in and out of the classrooms. Teachers with a longer track are showing the new how not to be good hard-working caring teacher. It must be done this way attitude is misleading the up and coming leaders.

Listening to kids conversations between classmates, sounds like no one is assigned any homework and class time learning has really been at very low levels with little effort being presented.

It was not teachers that cancelled recess, rather it was senior administration that made the decision.

“So, what do they want this time? More money and more time off?”

Well, they got no money last time and no more time off. Did you get a raise in the past 3 years? The teachers didn’t.

“Listening to kids conversations between classmates, sounds like no one is assigned any homework and class time learning has really been at very low levels with little effort being presented. “

This has nothing to do with teachers. This is a direct result of the ministry of education mandating that kids fail and parents abdicating their responsibility of making sure their kids do their homework. Why would you assign homework, and make school difficult if the kids aren’t going to do it and you’re going to pass them anyway?

“Taking back our time” in that they will not be arriving at school an hour before classes start, nor will they stay an hour after classes are done.
REALLY!! – check out a Friday or any other day – teachers are gone before the buses leave after school. Recess – most teachers don’t get out there till it is over – too busy getting a coffee.
Why don’t they just go out on strike – oh, it will affect their $$$.

Maybe if the government would bargain in good faith and stop violating or ripping up contracts then this wouldn’t be happening.

Does this mean no more Pro D days? The teachers should cancel those also. Say no extra “training” days either. Just classroom work. Have the kids attend school those days instead.

it must be Monday.

Posted by: Fate on April 23 2014 6:34 AM
“So, what do they want this time? More money and more time off?”

Well, they got no money last time and no more time off. Did you get a raise in the past 3 years? The teachers didn’t.

————-

But I don’t get $18,000 a year in benefits either. Nor do I get 4 months off a year.

I take it you don’t know the answer to my question? All I hear is how they’re doing this for the kids yet I see nothing in their demands that in any way, shape or form benefits the kids.

Just curious on what the salary is for a new teacher per year?

First off right now the classrooms are over loaded so the teachers dint have time to help all the students. The special needs kids are losing their assistants so the teacher uses up more time supposed to be for teaching dealing with these kids.

They have been offered 6.25 and they said no, they want 9% plus cost of living which equates to 13%. A lot ridiculous in my view. Here are two good articles about the skewing of information by the BCTF. They incorporate information when it suits their agenda. They also add in the territories salaries to show BC dropping in ranking 2 places since 2006 ( 2006 the territories were not included, 2010 they were and no the BC teachers should not make what a Yukon, Nunavut or NWT teacher makes. Ever. Also keep in mind they wage is for 9 months of actual work at around 7hrs a day. 2 months off in the summer, 2 week at Christmas and 2 weeks in the Spring.
Yes I know they have to live on it for a year, but remuneration is based on the actual time spent working. Everyone knows the teachers wont do major job action until closer to the end of the year so they can use the students as leverage. Noting like being a grade 12 student and not able to get a report card in time to apply for university. Or knowing if your kid will be going into the next grade because teachers with their ample pension plan, indemnity wages, 9 months a year and no real push for further education for our educators want more money.

If it was class size and composition why is all the BCTF complaining about wages, wages, wages. Wanting parity to Alberta, well Alberta has oil $ and BC just lost 600 jobs in 2 towns.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/on-wages-bc-teachers-are-pushing-a-tough-sell/article17185144/

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/battle-of-numbers-how-much-does-an-average-teacher-make/article17309702/

Just checked my grade 5 class photo from 30 years ago. Yup, 32 kids. So we are down to just beotching about wages. Kindly get to work teachers. Thank you.

Of all the ranting and raving on this site, this has got to be the worst. The teachers haven’t had a contract for over a year. To “SayS Say Say”: The idea that old teachers are teaching new teachers about underpaid and overworked is the stupidest thing I ever read on here. Young teachers are no different than old ones. They get a degree, get a job and teach.
To Axman: You are one of those people who believe that all teachers are overpaid holiday mongers so there will be no convincing you. Where does the 4 months off number come from. You must have skipped math.
To Sergio: When do unions negotiate? They negotiate when they have a card in the game. Negotiating at the end of a school year gives no incentive to the other side to even show up at the table.

The fact that you guys can even be on here wining and hunting and pecking on your keyboards is because of a teacher.

There are some very good teachers out there. Go to school and get a degree and become a teacher and spend the rest of your career justifying your existence to people who have stupid uninformed opinions.
Work in a pulpmill with a grade 12 education and make more money with a good pension and benefits. My daughter wanted to be a teacher. Thank God we talked her out of it.
The negotiation tactics of the employer’s side is the same every year. No increase, no change. Teachers strike, the employer deducts pay because they were off on strike and they give teachers that pay back in the way of a raise. The education minister is a puppet. No need to even have one.

How do you explain to a 6 year old that the reason they don’t get recess is because the adults want more money. Does “I don’t understand” work?

Interceptor, how many social cases did that teacher have to deal with 30 years ago? How many of your classmates told your teacher to “Go $%*$ yourself” on a daily basis 30 years ago? Comparing 30 years ago to today is ridiculous.

Teachers have been fighting with governments of all stripes fo the last 30 years or so. I remember strikes and job actions back when I went to school.

At what point do teachers stop pointing the finger of blame everywhere else?

This is nothing new.

When that Doctor treats the cancer that is making you sick and you get better, blame a teacher.

Funny how teachers still think they’re “The Chosen Ones”
Just another bunch of blue collar workers who think they’re owed something special.

“To Axman: You are one of those people who believe that all teachers are overpaid holiday mongers so there will be no convincing you. Where does the 4 months off number come from. You must have skipped math.”

You got me there. It’s actually more like three and half. Add in the sick days and it’s a pretty sweet deal. But as long as they have kids to hold hostage they can demand anything they want.

“But I don’t get $18,000 a year in benefits either. Nor do I get 4 months off a year.

I take it you don’t know the answer to my question…”

Neither do the teachers. Yes their asking for more money, if they’re not, they’re losing money. They also asked for more money in the last round, but didn’t get any. Every year you dont get a raise, your take home pay is decreasing. Every year our favorite BC Libs are downloading costs onto you an me. If you’re not getting a raise, you’re falling behind.

“All I hear is how they’re doing this for the kids yet I see nothing in their demands that in any way, shape or form benefits the kids.”

Apparently you haven’t been paying attention to the legal battle that the BCTF has been involved with the BC gov for more than 10 years, it’s all about class size, composition and special needs. It’s all about the kids. People read strike and all they can focus on is remuneration. Please pay attention to everything that is going on, it’s not simply remuneration.

“How do you explain to a 6 year old that the reason they don’t get recess is because the adults want more money. Does “I don’t understand” work?”

Tell your 6 year old that the superintendent of schools decided he doesn’t want to direct his admin to baby sit little Johnny at recess.

Yeah, that’ll work. LMAO!

@ Sergio
Average starting salary for a teacher is about 47,000. Maximum is around 75,000 based on 2011 salary grid.

What is interesting is never do you hear about college or university instructor wage negotiations like the one that was just offered down south. So it is okay to give Intructors wage increases but not teachers?
Maybe the teachers should all quit and start up their own daycares where they could charge 800.00/month per kid. Then it could be recess all day! I mean that’s all teachers are aren’t they?Babysitters!

School District 57 cancelled recess, not Teachers. This is a misconception. Supervision was one of the issues addressed at the Labour Relations Board between the employer and the BCTF. There is an agreement that the school district should work with local teachers associations to ensure coverage. That didn’t happen.
SD57 cancelled recess due to admin. inconvenience. This is not province wide.
It is a disappointing move. Let’s remember that the reason for this Strike is 12 years of cuts to Public Education. If you want information please see afairdeal.ca to find out more. Thank you

“Young teachers are no different than old ones. They get a degree, get a job and teach.”

I see them as being considerably different. They get the lowest pay because they start at the bottom or slightly above if they have advanced degrees.

They do not team teach for the first year or two while they are learning the ropes of the job and being the only one in a room with students and having all the responsibilities that go with that.

Teaching is not a job that is done only at school. Work relating to teaching follows one home where lesson plans and lessons are planned and created as well as adjusted for the specifics of the class, where assignments are marked and where records are kept. Those who do any of that in class time are guilty of in-attentional teaching just as drivers who text while driving are guilty of in-attentional driving.

So, the learning teacher typically works harder than the teacher who has 5 years under their belt and has not only learned how to be more efficient and effective in their “after hours” duties, but has also developed many assignments which can be adjusted to a new situation or used again as are.

So, what I do not see is experienced teachers saying they are interested in adjusting the pay scale so that the new teachers receive more of a piece of the pie.

Disclosure – I have taught at the post secondary level for part of my career, so I have experienced it. During that time I also learned how unfair unions can be. Unlike some good managers in non-unionized situations, they do not care about the individual, they care about the masses.

Too bad! This has become a predictable ritual. One has to be careful when one chooses to study for a job or a profession. Entering into a teaching job carries well-known advantages and disadvantages, the possibility of confrontations, strikes and being legislated back to work. Actually, there are many more jobs out there that are more stressful, difficult and full of daily challenges. Most people cope and make do, often for very good pay and often being way behind compared to others. A career change can lead to being much happier.

Sometimes a full-blown strike clears the air.

Funny how we all hear about cuts in education and health care on a yearly basis. But never do we see cuts in salary at BC Hydro or BC Ferries.

I’ve never worked in the school system, and though I admit I envied the time off the teachers get, I wouldn’t want to be one.
Frankly, I don’t think some parents take the school system seriously. There are expectations that teachers should provide them with day care, take care of their childrens’ special needs, and make allowances for their ADD or whatever other behavioural/learning disorders come to mind. Often, these expectations supersede providing a good education.

Students use cell phones and tablets routinely for non-educational purposes and teachers have little control because it’s allegedly for “safety reasons”. And then parents pull their kids out of school whenever the spirit moves them to go on Mexico vacations, etc and expect the teachers to find a way to accommodate and keep them up to speed with their classes. And if the kids and/or the parents treat the teachers with disrespect, they’re supposed to just suck it up.
Nope – couldn’t pay me enough to do it.

Then I will make my disclosure; I am married to a teacher. Been married for 30 years. She has been a teacher her whole career. Team teaching wouldn’t be allowed simply because the district couldn’t budget for it. Young teachers get the lowest pay because they are new at the position. That seems pretty standard to me. They are well trained and seem to want to use technology more than the older teachers. That’s a good thing as well as a bad thing.
Let me tell you what a regular evening looks like at my house. My wife leaves work at 5:00 PM and goes to the gym. I get home at 5:30 and make dinner. She gets home from the gym and eats. We watch 30 minutes of TV (News) then she heads off to mark, plan lessons, compile marks, prepare report cards etc. At around 11:00 PM she stops working and we go to bed. Anyone who thinks that teachers stop working at 3 and get 4 months off is an idiot. DO all teachers do this? No. But lots of them do. There is no incentive to become a teacher if the pay sucks and society doesn’t respect your profession.
I make about 25% more than my teacher wife in the private sector with a grade 12 education. Teaching is the only profession where you’re expected to have a degree yet you’re expected to work for less than any other profession that requires similar education.

Get a teaching degree and make $75,000.00 a year and your lazy and overpaid.

Get a law degree and make $100,000.00 a year and you’re deemed a pretty $hitty lawyer.

Simple: if teaching is so easy, so simple, pays so much, has so many holidays and free benefits: become a teacher. Walk a mile in their shoes. Otherwise, hold your tongue.
How many complainers think they know all about teaching because they were students? Maybe they’re qualified doctors because they’ve been to the hospital?
Don’t complain because you are taxpayers. So are teachers. While the government takes more from our wallets in taxes and fees and service charges and registrations and….. They spend less and less on education. Then they bs the figures so we think they have increased spending. Per student funding in BC in 2000: second in Canada. In 2013: last in Canada.

But we spent $1 billion for a convention centre. 3.5 billion to replace a perfectly good bridge. 500 million to replace a roof. The list goes on.

Simple: if teaching is so easy, so simple, pays so much, has so many holidays and free benefits: become a teacher. Walk a mile in their shoes. Otherwise, hold your tongue.
How many complainers think they know all about teaching because they were students? Maybe they’re qualified doctors because they’ve been to the hospital?
Don’t complain because you are taxpayers. So are teachers. While the government takes more from our wallets in taxes and fees and service charges and registrations and….. They spend less and less on education. Then they bs the figures so we think they have increased spending. Per student funding in BC in 2000: second in Canada. In 2013: last in Canada.

But we spent $1 billion for a convention centre. 3.5 billion to replace a perfectly good bridge. 500 million to replace a roof. The list goes on.

Simple: if teaching is so easy, so simple, pays so much, has so many holidays and free benefits: become a teacher. Walk a mile in their shoes. Otherwise, hold your tongue.
How many complainers think they know all about teaching because they were students? Maybe they’re qualified doctors because they’ve been to the hospital?
Don’t complain because you are taxpayers. So are teachers. While the government takes more from our wallets in taxes and fees and service charges and registrations and….. They spend less and less on education. Then they bs the figures so we think they have increased spending. Per student funding in BC in 2000: second in Canada. In 2013: last in Canada.

But we spent $1 billion for a convention centre. 3.5 billion to replace a perfectly good bridge. 500 million to replace a roof. The list goes on.

“Simple: if teaching is so easy, so simple, pays so much, has so many holidays and free benefits: become a teacher. Walk a mile in their shoes. Otherwise, hold your tongue”

===================================

To be fair, the reverse is also true. If teaching is so bad and if teachers are so underpaid given their education, they are completely free to leave the profession and utilize their skills elsewhere.

I will agree that the starting wage for a teacher is a joke. The top end wage? I don’t know. I don’t see the number and think that people are getting the shaft. I would also believe that many teachers are worth much more than the top end wage.

If there was ever a way to link teacher pay with teacher performance, I think that would be the way to go. Give more money to those who are better teachers and who get better results out of the people they are teaching. The union would never go for that though, because like gus said, unions like to see everyone as being exactly the same.

The notion that there are bad teachers out there making the same 70K as outstanding teachers is something that the unions simply can’t admit. Compensate teachers for the value they bring to the table, not simply for how long they have been employed.

To all the teachers who voted Liberal in the last election I have very little support for you. This government will never bargain in good faith. The government tried to provoke a strike last year so it’s time to cut your losses and get out on the picket line.

“But I don’t get $18,000 a year in benefits either. Nor do I get 4 months off a year.

I take it you don’t know the answer to my question…”

Neither do the teachers. Yes their asking for more money, if they’re not, they’re losing money. They also asked for more money in the last round, but didn’t get any. Every year you dont get a raise, your take home pay is decreasing. Every year our favorite BC Libs are downloading costs onto you an me. If you’re not getting a raise, you’re falling behind.

“All I hear is how they’re doing this for the kids yet I see nothing in their demands that in any way, shape or form benefits the kids.”

Apparently you haven’t been paying attention to the legal battle that the BCTF has been involved with the BC gov for more than 10 years, it’s all about class size, composition and special needs. It’s all about the kids. People read strike and all they can focus on is remuneration. Please pay attention to everything that is going on, it’s not simply remuneration.

“How do you explain to a 6 year old that the reason they don’t get recess is because the adults want more money. Does “I don’t understand” work?”

Tell your 6 year old that the superintendent of schools decided he doesn’t want to direct his admin to baby sit little Johnny at recess.

Can’t just blame the Liberals. There was a teacher strike during the NDP governments too.

“All I hear is how they’re doing this for the kids yet I see nothing in their demands that in any way, shape or form benefits the kids.”

Apparently you haven’t been paying attention to the legal battle that the BCTF has been involved with the BC gov for more than 10 years, it’s all about class size, composition and special needs. It’s all about the kids. People read strike and all they can focus on is remuneration. Please pay attention to everything that is going on, it’s not simply remuneration.

—————-

I have to call BS on that. While the BCTF has yet to let the public know their demands I found a pdf from 2012 listing their major demands. You guessed it, more wages, more time off and more benefits.

Why don’t they just cut the BS and stop pretending that they’re in this for the kids. They’re not; they’re in it because they were under the impression that teaching was an easy gig.

Naming a website afairdeal.ca raises the same hairs on the back of my neck as when someone begins a sentence “to be perfectly honest” or “to tell you the truth” What follows is most often the polar opposite of what was advertised.
Clearly the site is bctf propaganda, how about they post a list of what their demands are and how much they have moved from their original position in order to reach a settlement. Big fib on the front page when they said they have negotiated for a year but refused to meet at all through the summer months.

So all you folks bitching adout teachers, did you home school? Sounds like the thing to do if school is so bad. Oh wait home schooling, that would take time away from my toys.

adout?

Would not do them much good to give them 72 hrs strike notice in summer months.

For crying out loud, my children are with the teachers more than they are with me. Can we not provide the teachers with a happy, healthy work environment to assist them in getting the job done in a positive manner.

I want 3% every year, why would teachers be any different. Yes, it is true that by choosing this profession and getting educated for it; these people have pigeon holed themselves with not many alternative career options. However, I believe the majority of teachers are genuine in there drive to help children.

Well said only2c.The problem is with this government is they would replace all the teachers with TFW if they could.The cost of living is not going down.

The more I read, the more I am starting to think that private school is a viable option.

but remember, the students will NOT be affected by any job actions.

“I have to call BS on that. While the BCTF has yet to let the public know their demands I found a pdf from 2012 listing their major demands. You guessed it, more wages, more time off and more benefits.

Why don’t they just cut the BS and stop pretending that they’re in this for the kids. They’re not; they’re in it because they were under the impression that teaching was an easy gig.”

Congratulations, you found the pdf released by Fassbender and the BCLibs.

Now go read about the court ruling from Justice Griffin with regards to the BCTF and the provinciall government.

How many unions and their employers tell the general public their bargaining mandates?

Axman “4 months vacation” The first one to lie has lost all value in their arguments. That person is you, and most are likely not to believe anything you say from here on out.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Gus “So, what I do not see is experienced teachers saying they are interested in adjusting the pay scale so that the new teachers receive more of a piece of the pie.”

Teachers do have a proposal on shrinking the grid. Eliminating the grid has been asked for in the past and scoffed at. The government costed it at an extremely large number.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
JohnnyBelt “The more I read, the more I am starting to think that private school is a viable option.”

That is exactly what the liberal government is doing along with all of the corporations that donate to the Fraser Institute. The destabilization of public education through gross underfunding is underway. Districts across the province are making massive cuts due to increase in hydro, msp, and unfunded cupe raises.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In 1998 Teachers took classroom size and composition in exchange for accepting 0-0-2, four short years later the government tore up the size and composition language and have since lost 2 court cases regarding this. Teachers are also on the 3rd year of zeroes in a row.

The 13% being asked for is COLA so that teachers are not losing money each year in relation to inflation, and a 3% per year catchup to make up for the zeroes mentioned above. Does that sound unfair?

If the bctf insists on a public campaign with untold thousands spent on media advertising then they should also lay the cards on the table and say exactly what they are asking for.

Justice Griffin? Is that the one that the higher court justice said had major flaws in her ruling and granted the province their appeal.

Posted by: Fate on April 23 2014 12:23 PM

Congratulations, you found the pdf released by Fassbender and the BCLibs.

———-

Nope. It was the BCTF bulletin to it’s members.

Here you go:

http://tinyurl.com/kl7qx6z

Posted by: Smooth on April 23 2014 12:30 PM
Axman “4 months vacation” The first one to lie has lost all value in their arguments. That person is you, and most are likely not to believe anything you say from here on out.

—————-

Well then, you’re in a pickle since the BCTF has been lying to you for years. Kid’s are first and foremost my butt…

If I was running the “institution”, here’s how it would play out.

I’d give the teachers their raise and smaller class sizes… BUT…

They would be working a full year, just like the rest of us. Yes that would mean students in class all year as well, which a number of studies have shown is a better system.

“I have to call BS on that. While the BCTF has yet to let the public know their demands I found a pdf from 2012 listing their major demands. You guessed it, more wages, more time off and more benefits.

Why don’t they just cut the BS and stop pretending that they’re in this for the kids. They’re not; they’re in it because they were under the impression that teaching was an easy gig.”

Congratulations, you found the pdf released by Fassbender and the BCLibs.

Now go read about the court ruling from Justice Griffin with regards to the BCTF and the provinciall government.

How many unions and their employers tell the general public their bargaining mandates?

Smooth: “That is exactly what the liberal government is doing along with all of the corporations that donate to the Fraser Institute.”

The BCTF has done just as much if not more harm in this regard over the past 30 years. Let’s not fool ourselves by blaming the current government for the situation. This has been going on a very long time.

Someone I know sent their kid to a private school called St Georges in Vancouver, 21k a year for tuition. Oh, if your an out of towner and want to include room and board with that add another 22k. Public school is a bargain!

“Nope. It was the BCTF bulletin to it’s members.”

ok, so they asked for a bunch of stuff. What’d they get? Have you ever asked for something, knowing full well you likely wont get it, or on the hope that you get some small piece?

“Justice Griffin? Is that the one that the higher court justice said had major flaws in her ruling and granted the province their appeal.”

The BC Appeal court said no such thing, nor would it in granting leave to appeal. That would be judging the appeal before even hearing it, which in and of itself would have the appeal thrown out. In fact, the BC libs chose not to appeal the initial ruling, thus hamstringing themselves on their eventual appeal.

There’s a reason the BC Gov wanted all documents from the proceedings kept confidential, they dont want to the general public to know how malicious and calculating their moves against the education system, and the teachers specifically, are.

“Nope. It was the BCTF bulletin to it’s members.”

ok, so they asked for a bunch of stuff. What’d they get? Have you ever asked for something, knowing full well you likely wont get it, or on the hope that you get some small piece?

“Justice Griffin? Is that the one that the higher court justice said had major flaws in her ruling and granted the province their appeal.”

The BC Appeal court said no such thing, nor would it in granting leave to appeal. That would be judging the appeal before even hearing it, which in and of itself would have the appeal thrown out. In fact, the BC libs chose not to appeal the initial ruling, thus hamstringing themselves on their eventual appeal.

There’s a reason the BC Gov wanted all documents from the proceedings kept confidential, they dont want to the general public to know how malicious and calculating their moves against the education system, and the teachers specifically, are.

Posted by: Fate on April 23 2014 1:25 PM
“Nope. It was the BCTF bulletin to it’s members.”

ok, so they asked for a bunch of stuff. What’d they get? Have you ever asked for something, knowing full well you likely wont get it, or on the hope that you get some small piece?

————-

I was merely pointing out that you were incorrect with your assertion that I was quoting from a government document.

First world problems…

I wonder if the union in Tumbler Ridge had anything to do with the mine shutting down??
Comments anyone?

A good article that explains how the BCTF plays with the per student funding numbers.

http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Editorial+education+spending+lower+crisis/9559273/story.html

Pylot, good post. Works well in Asian countries. Their students run circles around ours. I don’t think anyone would begrudge teachers a fair wage/ benefit package, but please stop with “It’s all about the kids.” It isn’t & never has been. Also, while there truly are great teachers out there, teachers on the whole are not responsible for all of our society’s achievements, to use the logic that I can only use a keyboard or be healed by a doctor because of a teacher is absurd, as you would have to reverse that argument & say that all the failed students that turn to drugs, crime etc. are the result of bad teachers. We know that’s not true either.

Ok simple again:

Give teachers a wage increase that is EXACTLY C.O.L.A. NO MORE. That way they don’t get ahead of anyone. They will only be able to keep up with rising grocery, housing, utility, energy costs. AND go back about 20 years to the years that they got 0 and 0 and 0 and include that in the calculation. Make it even and take away anything they got above the cost of living increase during that time.

Great you say! They will owe the government money!

Actually, if the teacher’s union and government adopted that formula, teachers would need an immediate 17.5% increase, and should receive about 3% for the rest of their contract. If they signed on to the government’s 10 year deal, they would receive an almost 16% wage increase by year 5……. and then it would continue to compound.

Now hold on. How is that fair? Teachers would make so much money! They would be “ripping off” the taxpayers! Maybe they were way overpaid to start with….

So how is it fair that if their wages don’t keep pace with the cost of living, but instead fall behind farther and farther, that they aren’t being “ripped off” by taxpayers? But that’s a whole different argument……

So what’s the class size in a private school? How many special needs in a class if any?

Here is a sampling of a few of the latest settlements reported by the Business Council of BC in their February—March 2014 Industrial Relations Bulletin. These settlements show that there are many private and public sector employees who are receiving considerably higher salary increases than what government is offering teachers.

Spectra Energy Transmission (Ft. Nelson) and Unifor local 862

10.5% over 3 years

Feb 1, 2013 3.25%

Feb 1, 2014 3.5%

Feb 1, 2015 3.75%

West Fraser Timber and United Steelworkers local 424, 425

13% over 5 years

Jul 1, 2013 3%

Jul 1, 2014 2%

Jul 1, 2015 2.5%

Jul 1, 2016 2.5%

Jul 1, 2017 3%

Plus $390 lump sum on ratification and $1000 lump sum in each of 2015, 2016 and 2017

Compass Group Canada (Vancouver Island Health Authority) and HEU

6.7% over 4 years

Oct 1, 2012 0%

Oct 1, 2013 2.4%

Oct 1, 2014 1.7%

Oct 1, 2015 2%

Apr 1, 2016 0.6%

Saputo Foods Inc. and International Union of Operating Engineers local 882

17.75% over 7 years

April 1, 2013 2.25%

April 1, 2014 2.25%

April 1, 2015 2.25%

April 1, 2016 2.25%

April 1, 2017 2.75%

April 1, 2018 3%

April 1, 2019 3%

Endako Mines and United Steelworkers local 1-424

6% over 2 years

April 1, 2013 3%

April 1, 2014 3%

University of Northern British Columbia and Faculty Association

5% over 2 years

July 1, 2012 2.5%

July 1, 2013 2.5%

Community Social Services Employers Association (Community Living) and Community Social Services Bargaining Association

5.5% – 13% over 5 years

April 1, 2015 1%

April 1, 2016 0.5% + 2.5% for some categories

Feb 1, 2017 1%

April 1, 2017 0.5% + 2.5% for some categories

Feb 1, 2018 1%

April 1, 2019 0.5% + 2.5% for some categories

Feb 1, 2019 1%

City of Nelson and CUPE local 339

6% over 3 years

Jan 1, 2013 2%

Jan 1, 2014 2%

Jan 1, 2015 2%

http://www.bcbargaining.ca

Still challenging anyone to find where the BCTF has said “It is all about the kids.”

We have a whole bunch of anti BCTF’ers saying the BCTF says it, but that doesn’t make it true. This is just an argument made so many times by those against the BCTF that others believe it as fact.

A lot of blame about the teachers not laying out their full package. Yet not a single one of you has asked to see a list of the government package including a list of all concessions? Why do you only demand this from one side?

For the record, both sides agreed to stay out of the media with specifics and only print the proposals from each side on secure member portals. Neither side is hiding anything, this is just an agreement made between the two feeling it would be easier to reach an agreement this way.

re: “For the kids” – The BCTF certainly isn’t above trotting out the per student funding levels, or demanding smaller classes ‘for the kids’.

Don’t worry Smooth, nobody believes that the BCTF is in it ‘for the kids’.

The Libtards and CONservatives are out in full force commenting on this story I see.

Something about well educated and intelligent people, like our teachers, that really gets those LibCons going. I wish they could get over their inferiority complex. Mine you, losing two court cases in a row, to the teachers, probably doesn’t help.

OMG, don’t you know there is such a shortage of skilled labour in the province and one would think the Lib’s would be willing to give teachers a raise in pay and smaller class sizes immediately. Well that’s what Christy said.

Screw the BCTF. Screw the teachers. You have turned a honorable trade into a farce.

Screw the BCTF. Screw the teachers. You have turned a honorable trade into a farce.

Now if only teachers got paid a trade persons wage eh dow7500!

I am a teacher.

I have been since 2006 when I graduated with a debt load of over $30 000 from student loans.

I began working in SD 57 shortly after as a Sub.

I would get called at 6:30am and told where to go.

Often I would not get called at all.

I could not plan my life activities ahead as I would then have to cancel if called to work.

I have had 3 short term (semester long) contracts at 3 different schools, with 7 different subjects taught in 8 different grade levels.

I haven’t taught the same course twice.

I haven’t taught the same student twice.

I haven’t filed a tax return yet that has had a full ‘year’ salary.

I have two other jobs, two of my own kids, a mortgage, and continuous student loan debt.

There is no stability in my job and I don’t know if or where I will teach after June 27th.

Would you like to try and be a new teacher?