Teacher Reps Come Out of Kamloops Meeting Unified
Prince George, B.C. – There are now less than two weeks before the scheduled start to the 2014-15 school year in B.C. and there is still no contractual agreement between the provincial government and the B.C. Teachers Federation. In fact, the parties have not even set any dates to meet at the bargaining table.
It was under that backdrop that the BCTF Special Representative Assembly was held in Kamloops last night and, as Prince George & District Teachers Association President Tina Cousins tells 250 News, firm decisions were made on the course of action to be taken as we head toward what is supposed to be the start of school on September 2nd. "I can't tell you a lot because the meeting was in committee, but there were decisions made, it was a long meeting and a democratic meeting with lots of debate. So I can't give you the gist of it, but (BCTF President) Jim Iker will be addressing the media Saturday or Sunday."
"So we came to decisions and we're going to move forward in unity. Of course teachers want a fair deal and better supports for kids and we're going to do what we need to do to put some pressure on the government. The executive tonight made recommendations and we got together all of the reps, between 300 and 400 reps from every part of the province. This is the third time that we've had a special rep assembly before our summer conference so its not entirely new to have meeting before this conference, it's our decision-making conference."
Asked about the atmosphere, the demeanor of the teacher reps following what has tunred out to be a long, hot summer of labour discontent, Cousins says "the general mood of the meeting was solidarity and unity,I felt, from the get-go. There was a standing ovation for Jim Iker, and that's how the meeting started and finished, which is kind of nice because it's been a long summer. It was good to meet again and have that sense of unity with our collective."
Cousins says Iker met with the BCTF executive following Friday night's meeting and will be laying out his feeling about where things stand at a media conference today or tomorrow. Cousins also reiterates that there is nothing in the wind in terms of new discussions with the government at this time.
Comments
“Of course teachers want a fair deal and better supports for kids…”
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Despite the rhetoric, the kids always seem to come second.
axman:
Despite the rhetoric, the kids always seem to come second.
Isn’t that because of the gov’t and people like you and HartGuy who complain about the funding for education? You seem to support that funding for our kids is 9th out of the 10 provinces. And you seem to gloss over that this gov’t has lost two court rulings and is spending time and money on yet another appeal.
From the Victoria Times Colonist, another take on the gov’t vs teachers.
http://www.timescolonist.com/opinion/letters/another-sign-that-user-pay-schools-are-coming-1.1325419
First our medical system now our teachers , whats next with this bunch of Liberals. Have they done anything to benifit anyone ….maybe not so much
“Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it” – our government and the teachers union should be absolutely ashamed of themselves for ending up in this position again!No honor amongst thieves!
Thought the mediator said he would help if the two bargaining parties stayed out of the media while they negotiated? I thought it was the BCTF that called for a mediator to step in?
One section of Government workers (Teachers) negotiating with another section of Government workers (Government).
Both sides salaries are paid for by the taxpayers.
Seems the taxpayers are caught in a squeeze play here.
Don’t see a solution to this problem for any period of time.
Also don’t forget even when both sides have an agreement it will still take a week before the school doors open for students. Classes and enrollment will have to be dealt with first.
People are saying that the provincial government is poised to give themselves each an 18 percent raise in pay. So who is this government really helping, not education or health care that’s for sure.
Posted by: karrman on August 23 2014 7:01 AM
axman:
Despite the rhetoric, the kids always seem to come second.
Isn’t that because of the gov’t and people like you and HartGuy who complain about the funding for education? You seem to support that funding for our kids is 9th out of the 10 provinces. And you seem to gloss over that this gov’t has lost two court rulings and is spending time and money on yet another appeal.
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You seem to make a lot of unfounded assumptions. Unlike the BCTF, I want to see funding go towards the kids first and foremost. Once that’s done, we can talk about making the teacher’s pay a little better and maybe add something to their platinum benefits package.
But this isn’t about the kids.
Things are starting to heat up a little in Quebec over the Quebec Government’s talk about reforming the pension plan for municipal workers in that province.
http://www.therecord.com/opinion-story/4768698-a-very-bad-day-for-democracy/
Palopu has it. We’re all going to get squeezed a little harder to make this deal happen for the teachers. It’s just a matter of how much. And don’t forget about the ‘me too’ clauses the other public sector unions have.
‘About the kids’ the BCTF says? Yeah right.
‘Families First’ the BC Liberals say? Yeah right.
“Teacher Greed”? Yeah right.
Don’t worry, after this dispute is settled, we can all go back to complaining about high taxes.
THIS DISPUTE SOLELY lies in govt.corner now. THEY apparently have settled on a wage but the issue about class size and composition remains. WHICH I might add has gone thru two judicial proceedings and the LIBS. have come out second best. LIBS. haven’t learned from the first two beatings so they are going to give it a go at number three. THIS is why your taxes go up because these meatheads are more stubborn than granddads JACKASS from the farm!
axman:
Unlike the BCTF, I want to see funding go towards the kids first and foremost.
But this isn’t about the kids.
Now that is an great unfounded assumption,
especially if rumours that the wage issue has been settled.
love it when the teachers ‘make it about the kids’ when they need a little more support. Watched our kids go through some of the most unprofessional teachers the last 3 years, none of them ‘put the kids first’. Suspend the trouble makers and rotten kids? Nah, that would reduce class sizes, libs would be outraged that this correct action was taken.
Teachers were too busy updating their facebook status, and finding ways to get out of recess patrol to really take notice the last couple years.
If you felt that you were wrongly accused would you use every appeal chance you had? Of course you would! No one would agree to guilt because it saved court time – that’s absurd. So if the wages are settled that’s great. The class size and comp is in front of the courts so non negotiable at this time. Shut up and get to work.
Gee that was easy :P
Throw all the money you want and that does not change the fact there are many TERRIBLE teachers out there with little to no way to do anything to deal with them. People seem to treat teachers like they are these magical beings that should get whatever they want. Going to college for years and getting a piece of paper that says you can teach does not make you a super hero all of a sudden. You cannot teach people skills. You cannot teach patience. They are humans and just like every other profession there are good ones and bad ones. Money does not make a bad teacher good. Set up a system that punishes bad teachers and rewards good teachers. There are things I’ve have heard teachers say to students, to parents and amongst themselves that I couldn’t even repeat here. Complaining to the school and principal does nothing. Complaining to the school board does nothing. They are protected by the union.
Posted by: karrman on August 23 2014 12:07 PM
axman:
Unlike the BCTF, I want to see funding go towards the kids first and foremost.
But this isn’t about the kids.
Now that is an great unfounded assumption,
especially if rumours that the wage issue has been settled.
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Actually, if the rumours are true, you’ve proved my point. Money in the teacher’s pockets first, the kids come second.
Thanks.
Doubt wages have been settled. Maybe the percentage increase has been settled but I highly doubt the 225 million in back pay has been settled, or the 5,000 signing bonus. The classroom clause of 225 million more dollars per year is going to be a stumbling block. Not sure why the BCTF is trying to bargain classroom composition anyways. This is the last appeal the government has so if they lose – classroom composition is back to where the BCTF wants it anyways.
The funding is going to children, it is being pulled out of Public Education to fund private and independent schools. Bountiful gets fifty percent of its funding from the Liberal government.
Have you read the Blueprint Re-design for Education and Training? Our Public Schools are being dismantled. This vilifying of teachers is going on throughout Canada and the US. Have you done looked? Are our children at least worth looking at has and is taking place behind the scenes?
This grandma did, will you?
This is a gong show the government and teacher are both blame for this mess. It’s never been about the kids. The money the teacher are asking for doesn’t help the kids education. Jim lker is part of the problem. He feeds bullshit just like our goverment
Our children will pay the price for this gong show. Regardless what the out come is
Maybe it is time Parents to quit that second job and home school your kids. Don’t expect the public sector to do it! Put your kids first before your big houses and diesel burning trucks pulling quads!
Posted by: Tj on August 23 2014 3:16 PM
The funding is going to children, it is being pulled out of Public Education to fund private and independent schools. Bountiful gets fifty percent of its funding from the Liberal government.
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And what’s wrong with funding independent schools? The students seem to do a lot better at those schools then they do in the public system. Maybe the public system is broken?
If students do better at a school that only gets 50% of the funds, doesn’t it make sense to encourage more of them?
250 news stays alive b/c of the red neck comments it gains.
“If students do better at a school that only gets 50% of the funds, doesn’t it make sense to encourage more of them?”
For those that can afford them, yes I suppose so.
Posted by: Pylot Project on August 23 2014 5:50 PM
“If students do better at a school that only gets 50% of the funds, doesn’t it make sense to encourage more of them?”
For those that can afford them, yes I suppose so.
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And those that can afford to buy their kids a better education (or those who are willing to make the necessary sacrifices) should have that opportunity. They are a lesser burden on the tax payer.
Of course, if we did not fund private schools at all then the students would do better at schools which got 0% funding, so it would make sense to really encourage a lot more of them.
Is it true that private schools students do better than public school students? Wasn’t there a report recently which debunked that? I was under the impression that most of our university students came from the public system, bearing in mind also that universities themselves are part of the public system. That means most of our doctors, dentists, lawyers, police, engineers and a whole host of other groups who keep our province, and Canada, running are from the public system. Maybe teachers are doing something right after all.
“And those that can afford to buy their kids a better education (or those who are willing to make the necessary sacrifices) should have that opportunity. They are a lesser burden on the tax payer.”
With that in mind, why have a public education system at all? Or a public healthcare system? It’s all about more cash staying in your pocket, correct? That would be an even lesser burden on the taxpayer.
Let’s go for it. Suits me fine. I’ve never had children and I’ve been paying into the system my entire adult life. I’d love to not have that on my tax bill at all.
Posted by: Pylot Project on August 23 2014 7:53 PM
With that in mind, why have a public education system at all? Or a public healthcare system? It’s all about more cash staying in your pocket, correct? That would be an even lesser burden on the taxpayer.
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Not everybody can afford private education or private healthcare. For those who can, they should have that option. We are not all equal.
Posted by: ammonra on August 23 2014 7:52 PM
Of course, if we did not fund private schools at all then the students would do better at schools which got 0% funding, so it would make sense to really encourage a lot more of them.
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I assume this “logic” is something you picked up in the public school system.
Indeed we are not equal. Let’ see, I’m 48, I’ve never had children, I should expect a hefty tax return. 20+ years into the system and never utilized it.
I do know how absurd that sounds. It’s just as absurd as the rich being able to get their private schools 50% paid for.
axman,
Actually, if the rumours are true, you’ve proved my point. Money in the teacher’s pockets first, the kids come second.
With that thinking axman, why haven’t they settled?
It was merely an extension of your own argument, axman.
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