CUPE members did not lose pay – they were able to use a vacation day.

Did some research on the BCPSEA and found some disturbing information.

Fact #1: The BCPSEA use to be governed by, a Board of Directors that consisted of; 9 school trustees, elected as representatives from the 60 School Boards in BC, and only 4 government appointed representatives.

So given those numbers, why are the School Board representatives, who outnumber the government representatives on the BCPSEA Board of Directors by a margin of more than 2 to 1, writing a letter to our government stating they are being; “ignored in the critical co-governance approach to labour relations”?

Fact #2: The Harper Conservative BC government has replaced the entire BCPSEA Board of Directors with just one government lackey! Under this Lib-Con government, our democracy is rapidly disappearing!

http://www.bcpsea.bc.ca/about-us/governance/board-of-directors.aspx

No wonder the School Boards are upset with this Lib-Con Provincial Government!

It’s been frustrating listening to both sides of the teachers dispute. On the one hand you have the BCTF (Teachers) with their Utopian wish list of demands for more resources, smaller class sizes etc etc etc..plus a pretty hefty increase in compensation when compared to every other public service union in the province. However you never see the BCTF acknowledge what the costs of their wishlist / demands would be for you and I the tax payer. On the other hand you have a government that seems to be ideologically opposed to even considering the BCTF position. They spout generalities about the BCTF position and how costly it would be, but again they seem either not prepared or not willing to give us the tax payer the true costs.
It is obvious that the relationship between governments (plural since BCTF has not reached a negotiated settlement with any government since the Socred days)and the BCTF is so poisoned that they will never ever reach an agreement.
There might be a solution, and this might be simplistic in nature, but why not let the Tax Payer decide?
Have both sides come up with their absolute best proposal, have both proposals costed out by an independent 3rd party, and have the tax implications for each proposal clearly communicated to the tax payer. Once these are in place hold a referendum, with a clear choice of proposal A or B, and let the tax payer decide how much more we want to pay in taxes to support the education system. Then we will know exactly what kind of education we the tax paying public are willing to support with our hard earned money

Hasn’t this government ignored “binding” arbitration in the past?

Is it true that the BCTF has had to fight with every party in government for the past say, 25 years to get a contract? If so, why.
If this is true, what’s the common denominator, and why has every government had difficulty with them?

I think that’s a very valid point Grizzly1. At some point, I think the teachers need to look at themselves and recognize that if they have such difficulty with EVERY government, perhaps they are a big part of the problem.

NMG, I don’t necessarily think that the teachers need to look at themselves as I do believe that the majority of teachers are hard working people, just like the majority of us.

Instead, I think that they need to look at the pinheads that they keep electing in the BCTF. Their “leadership??” continues to be completely out of touch with reality!!

What are you smoking BeingHuman? Harper has nothing to do with Provincial Politics?

slinky, with BeingHuman, Harper has everything to do with everything!

I’m beginning to think that this obsession stems from something in BeingHuman’s past. I suspect that while in Elementary School, BeingHuman had a major league crush on someone with the last name “Harper”!

Unfortunately for BeingHuman, this “Harper” had much better taste and wanted absolutely nothing to do with BeingHuman.

BeingHuman was devastated by “Harper’s” complete lask of interest and has never recovered emotionally. Sadly, BeingHuman has spurned all suggestions to seek counselling

That’s just my theory, but of course, I could be wrong!!

Peeps gets confused.

Why do independent schools who have teachers that teach at a much lower wage rate than public teachers seem to have a much better ranking than public schools with their higher paid teachers? Could it be the independent schools get the teachers who actually want to teach for the love of it and the public schools get the career public servant who just looks for that cushy pension package and security of tenure?

“Could it be the independent schools get the teachers who actually want to teach for the love of it and the public schools get the career public servant who just looks for that cushy pension package and security of tenure?”

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

I highly doubt it. The overwhelming majority of teaching positions in the Province would be at public institutiions and like any other profession, the vast majority of people engaged in that occupation are doing it because they want to.

Therefore, if you want to be a teacher in BC, odds are that you are going to end up working in the public system, where pensions are a reality and job security may be greater than in other sectors . . . until such time as someone decides to eliminate 100,000 jobs with the stroke of a pen. Oops, that’s the promise of the PC candidate in Ontario, but I digress.

As an aside, when did it become a bad thing for someone to seek out stuff like a pension or job security if they have that option? Who in their right mind wouldn’t? Is it any different than someone seeking out a job that pays well, has an RRSP matching program and provides them with a company car and an expense account?

Do we really want to get to a place in our society where people are somehow seen as bad because they seek out things that will improve their life? How sad is that?

I see your point Hart Guy and I agree that most teachers are hard working. At some point they do have to reign in the people at the top of the BCTF as like you said, I think they are completely out of touch with reality.

Slinky and Hart Guy; so you don’t think the conservatives have taken over the Liberal Government in Victoria? I guess I will have to present the following “evidence”:

“Former British Columbia premier Gordon Campbell is off to London. The Harper government formally announced his appointment as the new high commissioner to the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland today. The Canadian Press first reported Campbell’s new job in June.”

“Campbell resigned as premier earlier this year after the controversial introduction of the 12 per cent harmonized sales tax. While a Liberal, he was responsible for reinvigorating the relationship between B.C. and the Conservative government.”

http://thetyee.ca/Blogs/TheHook/Federal-Politics/2011/08/15/Gordon-Campbell-High-Commissioner/

Harpo wanted BC to adopt his Federal HST so he got Scambell to implement it against BC’s will, even lied about it saying before the election they would not introduce the HST, but after getting re-elected, introduced it anyway. Scambell paid the price for doing this, becoming the most unpopular Premier BC ever had. But no worries, because he did Harpo’s bidding, Harpo gave him that plum job in London.

Look for Crusty Clark to get a plum federal appointment after she leaves office for approving the building of the Northern Gateway pipeline. Like Scambell, it will cost her political career in this province, but Harpo will be there to reward her!

Finally there is this Globe and Mail article that talks about Christy Clark importing the Harper brand of Conservatism to BC.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/criticizing-the-conservative-christy-clark/article4420330/

I can present more evidence if you want, but how about you presenting evidence that the Liberal are still firmly in charge of our provincial government? Good luck!

Methinks Peeps doesn’t read his own links.

Peeps, BeingHuman, People#1, Hypocrite or whatever handle you are using today, I’d like to tell you that I am so very happy that I my Provincial Government is the Liberal Government! Horgan seems like a pretty decent guy, but vote for the NDP? Not very likely!

I am also very happy that Canada is currently government by the Conservative Party with Stephen Harper at the helm!! Our country, our government and our Prime Minister all seem to be quite well respected on the World stage!!

Vote for Justin Tredeau? Seriously, you can’t be serious!! The guy is a first rate twit! Thomas Mulcair, while a far more educated man than Tredeau, well he’s NDP and it will be a cold day in you know where before I would ever consider voting for the NDP!!

The only evidence that I and others want from you Peeps, BeingHuman, People#1, Hypocrite or whatever for crying out loud, is evidence that explains why you felt the need to change your handle!!

Others have asked, now I’m also asking!

Come on Peeps, er People#1, oops BeingHuman, darn it, I mean Hypocrite!!! I just can’t keep your handle straight anymore!!

“Do we really want to get to a place in our society where people are somehow seen as bad because they seek out things that will improve their life? How sad is that?” .. No problem at all, when it’s earned. I have seen to many kids come out of grad 12, graduating, who can’t do basic math. They clearly were not paid attention to in school, but rather just left to slide through. I doubt you would see that happen in an independent school system.

Not a particularly tough question to answer, Huh.
“Why do independent schools who have teachers that teach at a much lower wage rate than public teachers seem to have a much better ranking than public schools with their higher paid teachers? Could it be the independent schools get the teachers who actually want to teach for the love of it and the public schools get the career public servant who just looks for that cushy pension package and security of tenure?”

Have a friend who sent his kids to St. Michaels in Victoria.
He paid over $10000 per child. Small classes, very privileged kids. If you don’t meet the academic standard, you don’t get in; if you don’t keep up the academic standard, you are out.
His son had to withdraw, his daughters kids now a lawyer and a vet.

“That’s just my theory, but of course, I could be wrong!!”
Hart Guy, you frequently are ! :)

Not a particularly tough question to answer, Huh.
“Why do independent schools who have teachers that teach at a much lower wage rate than public teachers seem to have a much better ranking than public schools with their higher paid teachers? Could it be the independent schools get the teachers who actually want to teach for the love of it and the public schools get the career public servant who just looks for that cushy pension package and security of tenure?”

Have a friend who sent his kids to St. Michaels in Victoria.
He paid over $10000 per child. Small classes, very privileged kids. If you don’t meet the academic standard, you don’t get in; if you don’t keep up the academic standard, you are out.
His son had to withdraw, his daughters kids now a lawyer and a vet.

“That’s just my theory, but of course, I could be wrong!!”
Hart Guy, you frequently are ! :)

Not a particularly tough question to answer, Huh.
“Why do independent schools who have teachers that teach at a much lower wage rate than public teachers seem to have a much better ranking than public schools with their higher paid teachers? Could it be the independent schools get the teachers who actually want to teach for the love of it and the public schools get the career public servant who just looks for that cushy pension package and security of tenure?”

Have a friend who sent his kids to St. Michaels in Victoria.
He paid over $10000 per child. Small classes, very privileged kids. If you don’t meet the academic standard, you don’t get in; if you don’t keep up the academic standard, you are out.
His son had to withdraw, his daughters kids now a lawyer and a vet.

karmann, I did state that I do believe that the majority of teachers are hard working people, just like the majority of us.

Are you telling me that I am wrong???

karmann, sometimes I’m right, sometimes I’m wrong! I can live with that, as long as I get to offer some food for thought or get to make a point once in a while.

By the way karmann, did you catch my last post in the earlier “Teachers Job Action Hits P.G” thread. In case you missed it, you kept stating that teachers settled for 0-0-0 in their 1999 contract, when in fact they settled for 0-0-2 plus a whole lot more!!

You should take a moment to have a look. Because I found it very interesting, I’ll repost my lenghty comment so that you don’t have to go look for it. Enjoy and have a nice weekend.

karmann, you are incorrect in your statement to phje: “If you had any idea of what you’re talking about you would know teachers took 0-0-0 in 1998 to get class size language.”

Sorry, but the 1999 contract was being negotiated during a time of restraint when Glen Clark‘s NDP government was insisting on a three-year deal for all public-sector workers with pay increases of 0,0 and 2. The BCTF bargaining team had been seeking 3, 3 and 3.

The BCTF ended up accepting the same 0,0 and 2, however, the pot was secretly sweetened a lot more for the BCTF. There was one more bit of a fallout a year late when the new NDP premier, Ujjal Dosanjh, began uncovering the true costs of all those contracts negotiated by the departed Glen (who resigned in 1999) with the assistance of the departed Dix (ditto).

Far beyond the 0-0-2 basics were myriad additional costs. Pension improvements. Hiring targets. Boosts in pay and benefits for designated categories.

The full cost of all those Glen Clark-government authored deals was pegged at $1.3 billion, the equivalent of an 11 % boost in the tab for public sector compensation.

The latter disclosure during a budget briefing in the spring of 2000 produced a memorable headline: NDP math: 0+0+2=11.

So to recap the results of the one round of public sector bargaining where Adrian Dix takes partial credit for the outcome:

The premier’s office directly negotiated a one-sided deal with a union that had to be imposed on the province’s elected school trustees. It also generated a revolt against one of the few BCTF leaders to ever successfully negotiate a contract. And the terms, as sold to the public, were subsequently discredited by the New Democrats themselves.

All of this information can be found in the following articles:

http://blogs.vancouversun.com/2010/03/10/clarification-a-quick-review-of-bctf-history/

http://www.canada.com/story_print.html?id=8939e534-0a32-43c3-a59b-b63a8dc27e76&sponso

Pretty interested, eh karmann!!

Hart Guy,
I stand corrected.
Both articles are an interesting read.
Thank you for listing them.