The Facts, Just the Facts in the Teachers Dispute
Last winter, as I rode in a taxi in Puerto Escondido, Mexico , the driver said we must take a detour around the Main street because there was a protest going on. He said the teachers from the region were on strike. I asked was this unusual, he replied no it happens all the time, maybe as much as every three months because the government and the teachers can’t get along.
It makes you wonder just how wide the argument is between government and the educators, not just in BC but across Canada, and it has been shown to exist as far as Mexico.
We do know that the court battle underway in BC has its roots in what has been termed a sweet heart deal by former Premier Glen Clark as he was looking to the future and was seeing that he would not be forming the next government. That is the rub that the BCTF took the province to court on, after then Education Minister Christy Clark tore up the deal following the election in 2001. Here we are, so many years later and the issue remains before the courts for a final say.
In the meantime, just what is the position of both parties? We hear this is what the union wants then we hear this is what the government is offering from the teachers, but never some hard cold facts about who is asking for what.
If the teachers and the government want me on their side they will need to show me a case in black and white, why they are not prepared to either hand over more money, or change the class size, and on the other hand, why they are asking for this kind of money, and just what do those class sizes and extra benefits cost the BC taxpayer?
If you look at the polls they are equally divided on who supports who, is there any wonder?
I’m Meisner and that’s one man’s opinion.
Comments
Fact, if there are 40,000 teachers, signing bonus costs 200 million.
Fact, outcome of court case is not relevant, because no matter what the outcome, the loser will appeal to Supreme Court of Canada.
Fact: 500,000 school children – don’t vote. 500,000 parents – vote, 2.5 million other taxpayers – who must pay – and also vote – who do you think the government really is going to listen to.
I’ve been in labour negotiations, and settlement is virtually impossible if there is no trust between the parties. Now, the government can give the teacher’s everything they want – and just raise taxes – that’s a fact. And, the me too clauses will kick in, and they can give all the other government union workers the same – and raise taxes. But, it seems the government has dug in and said, we’re not raising taxes to pay for this, we’re not budging.
BCTF – in spite of the fact the government hasn’t moved from their original position in any substantive way, believes that kids out of school will force the government to give them what they want. They believe the government is bluffing. I think they also believe this will end up costing them nothing, because each day missed, will just be replaced by forfeiting Christmas holidays, and Spring break, and teacher’s pay cheques really won’t be affected.
I think the wild card in all of this is Christy Clark. I believe she wants to see the system fail, so she can privatize education. I don’t think BCTF is able to wrap their mind around it. They are bargaining with an employer who really doesn’t care.
“Fact, outcome of court case is not relevant, because no matter what the outcome, the loser will appeal to Supreme Court of Canada”
If the court case outcome is not relevant, as you say, then clause E81 is not relevant in the contract offered by the Liberal Gov’t. You can’t have it both ways. Pull that clause and maybe things will move forward.
I see earlier postings have been removed… I wonder why?
BCRacer… they all vaporized during the system change-over around noon today.
I have to disagree with Ben on this one as I noted in an earlier post. If you really want to know what the issues are just go to the CBC.ca/BC and all the information is there.
Cheers
Judicial Independence be damned. Someone has to tell those learned Appeal Court Justices to get off their collective butts and deliver a judgement either way. They get paid enough, now let’s have a decision!
okay, thanks Pylot, I thought maybe I was dreaming when I thought I wrote my comment earlier…
I agree with ski50 that the government wants to privatize education. They did it with highways and even though the service costs more and isn’t as good as it was no one complains about it anymore. If they privatized now people would forget before the next election. ☻
So, because the government won’t cave in and give the teachers twice what the other public sector unions bargained for, it means they want to ‘privatize education’? Hardly.
All some plot to privitize education….whatever.
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