How can binding arbitration be wrong? What is the government scared of ? What are they not telling us?

Hand the public purse over to an arbritator? Give an arbitrator the power to control a huge part of the BC Budget? Yeah, what could possibly go wrong?

Want to generate some revenue ? Look at all the jaywalkers.

Like the government has done many times with success. Yeah just like that JB

yes Pval – like they did with the Doctors and had to raise PST to cover it. Just like that.

The knowledgeable electorate realized long before they entered the ballot booth that a vote for the “liberals” would equate to a battle with the BCTF. The teachers ensured that when they instructed their union to use dues to fund a cynical campaign against their de facto employer.
As someone who has children ranging in age from 23 to 2, I would say I have a fair amount of experience dealing with the BCTF’s chicken little routine of the day, all too well. Most of the membership has been mailing it in for decades.
The BCTF, and organization that is steadfastly against ANY attempt to grade teachers and their abilities, who also sees no-purpose in standardized exams, wants to tell you how your child should be taught. Right: the precious doves whiling away their lives in a nirvana of their own design, are going to have a clue how to prepare tomorrow’s productive citizens on what to expect once they graduate to the REAL world. Next.

P Val, do you really expect the government to default to a arbitrator when the stakes are this high? Whats at stake for the province is who will set education policy. Elected governments or the employees. Glen Clark changed the game on his way out the door with huge ramifications for the province in perpetuity. I’m sure you are fine with the BCTF dictating how education funding is allocated, but as the last election shows, the voters are most definitely not. We have seen enough of the BCTF’s self serving BS to know they are NOT guided by a sense altruism for the students. Just because Clark gave the BCTF this gift in an attempt to save his government does not mean it is a basic right. The government must reverse this back room vote buying clause that will saddle the taxpayers with huge funding increases and no accountability from the BCTF.

Jimmy and Dow, well spoken!
What does the BCTF think, they’re a distinct society? Even Quebec wouldn’t pander to their ego.

The government, you mean the same one who ripped up the contract in 2002 to put us in the spot we are in now

Self serving bs like wanting to be able to teach, special needs kids getting the help they need. Yeah those teachers. How dare they want any of that.

PVal before an arbitrator they could go with legislation but both have their problems, look at the previous agreements reached either way before spouting union rhetoric. Both are what the BCTF wants because they can’t negotiate worth a plumb nickel. The BCPSEA wanted a written proposal from Iker on the arbitration {you know – the guy who won’t look at anything from government without it coming in written form} and found out he was flying off the seat of his pants and had no formal information to provide.

“The government, you mean the same one who ripped up the contract in 2002”
They gave the BCTF just what they wanted that round, a legislated settlement. But the BCTF didn’t like the agreement, same thing will happen every time it is legislated – it leaves a bad taste in someone’s mouth that just builds year after year. Teachers hate teaching for money, that is obvious so move on and get new blood into the system who will gladly work for money.

Jimmy Hughes I agree the NDP has had no luck negotiating a deal either. There was no negotiated deal during the NDP reign, it was always a legislated settlement. Even the 1998 agreement they went past the BCPSEA (which the NDP created) and had the NDP legislate them a contract which was ‘unlegislated’ in 2002. Funny thing they loved the 1998 legislation which the NDP caucus and school boards along with the BCPSEA were vocally against, but didn’t save Clark’s NDP behind in the election.

Funny thing is Horgan says he would not legislate a deal either in this case… he says in an interview “There needs to be a level of confidence and trust between the parties. I think imposing a contract again will further drive a wedge between teachers and the employer. I don’t think that’s the solution.”

Dow.. This government has done nothing but back room deals.. Wake up,and smell the tax increase from all these deals.. But they blame joe tax payer for all the increases.. We need to educate our kids.. No put on Olympics.. Not spend huge money to fix bc place roof..which need repairs already.. Not taking $900,000,000 from ICBC then raising car insurance etc etc..

Teachers had a LEGAL contract. The only reason it will cost us so much now is because it was ripped up. Thank liberals for all the lies, law breaking and back room deals.. Doesn’t get any worse than that.

Grizzly2, I’ll concur, well spoken Jimmy and Dow!!

It’s amazing that the “Lefties” completely and adamantly fail to acknowledge and accept that Glen Clark sold us down the river. I am more than happy to see the Liberal’s attempts to paddle back up against the current, a current arising from a river of tears from the BCTF and it’s supporters!

Arbitration is the cheaper option and the BC Government cannot appeal the decision of arbitration and drag it in court for political reasons or to bankrupt the other party.

Actually prof, the less expensive option is honest negotiation of a fair deal. In the current climate that won’t happen until precious egos are set aside for the greater good of public education.

I agree that common sense and honest negotiation is cheaper, but that is a rare commodity these days. What is the position of both parties on the BC conservative proposal?

As ushual P Val, you are missing the point. Since the government fixed a roof, the BCTF should control class size? This is about who sets education policy. Elected governments, or a self serving union. Clark threw that little tidbit in essentially eleminating the governments role and responsibility in formulating education standards going forward. I know you don’t agree, why would you. You and your union want the hammer. I get it. It’s just not in the best interest of British Columbians which is why this government won’t fold to the binding arbitration ruse.

The BCTF has cried “for the students” for 30 years. Do you really expect voters to keep buying that BS.

Prof, I don’t believe either party considers it relevant. Currently we have an entrenched Iker with the BCTF on one side and a Cameron entrenched on the other. Do we truly think either is open to fresh ideas? Especially when one considers the stigmas attached to the source(s) of those new ideas?

I agree it would be great to know what the parties true thoughts are though.

There are far to many right wingers on this site and mostly the same 3 names posting pro liberal who keep posting the same BS on every teachers article news 250 posts. But none of these expert posters on this situation have a solution. Just like the government.

Glen Clark had nothing to do with the BCTF winning the court case two times. It was the judges who decided the liberals made a bad decision and Our premier will not stand down and work around the court ruling. Not once have the right wingers mentioned how much tax dollars has the liberals spent trying to over turn this decision!! Oh but it’s ok to raise our taxes to pay the lawyers but heaven forbid it go into education. You all need a reality check.

I don’t know what is the position of the NDP on the Conservative proposal. If BC NDP supports it, the Conservatives will be strengthened in BC (taking more votes from BC liberals than NDP in next election) which is not a bad development for BC NDP. There is an opening for NDP.

Anyone who reads news can tell Glen Clark gave away the farm years ago, or we wouldn’t be in the mess we’re in.

And for all you anti union posters. We have all enjoyed better wages and benefits riding off the coat tails of the unions. Liberals support corporate greed and if it was not for the unions we may as well all move and give it to the temporary foreign workers.

Prof, swallowing turds only leaves a bad taste in one’s mouth and opens one up to acquiring infections… I prefer flushing and cleansing of the sewer, lol. No one seems to want to do that. I think plungers are in order. :-P

@ 8,

You state that we have all enjoyed better wages and benefits riding off the coat tails of the unions. You’re kidding, right??

As a self-employed business owner, I’m curious how you think that I have enjoyed better wages and benefits riding off the coat tails of the unions?

I pay high municipal taxes and fees, in a very large part to support a very well compensated municipal workforce!

I pay high provincial taxes and fees, in a very large part to support a very well compensated provincial government workforce!

I pay high federal taxes and fees, in a very large part to support a very well compensated federal government workforce!

I have no set wages, instead I hope that enough business is generated each day to pay the bills, pay the taxes, pay the fees and hopefully have some left over at the end of the day for me!

I have not benefits plan to cover my healthcare and dental costs so I hope that I don’t get sick. God forbid that I get sick, can’t work, go out of business and am then no longer able to continue to pay all of the fees and taxes that I pay to keep all of these unionized workers happy!

Yes 8, please explain to me how I am riding off the coat tails of the unions! Or, perhaps they are riding off of my coat tails!!

Ya 8, I have a solution. The BCTF excepts the wage and benifit agreements of every other Union. To think Cark had nothing to do with this currant dispute shows your blind ignorance of the issue. Glad you joined the blog 8. Always a need for more union drones. I can think of nothing any union has ever done for me in my working career. Others maybe, but I don’t owe the union movement the sweat off by balls.

Just hang on for one more year hart guy. You’ll be out if business. Bc does not support small business.

Are you suggesting our legal system is corrupt dow 7501? Now look who has a blind ignorance problem.

I keep.hearing that all public unions get the same agreement. How can that be when they all get different wage increases this year. Don’t tell me the bc government is lying to us all .

P Val :”I keep.hearing that all public unions get the same agreement. How can that be when they all get different wage increases this year.”

This has been explained many times — Because you have to factor in the cost of benefits. Maybe it’s time to express public sector union compensation in terms of both wages and benefits.

“I keep.hearing that all public unions get the same agreement. How can that be when they all get different wage increases this year. ”

Are you really that naive P Val? The cost of improvements to a contract include not just wages but wages and benefits. This would include things like signing bonuses, increased back rub allowance, etc, etc. Some unions think their benefits are just fine the way they are so focus on the money while others mix it up a little. The tf seems to want it all-and then some!

8, you didn’t answer my question, how am I (and countless other small business owners) riding off the coat tails of the unions!

Hart guy!! If you think we are stupid enough to believe you would pay a fair wage if the competition for employees had not been set by a union. You would pay as little as possible. And if you did not, you would be poor business man. If corporations had not of abused the worker you would not have unions. You are your worse enemy. Unions protected the worker from unfair labour practices and no matter what we say brought a better working Environment to workers other wise would have been fired or told to shut up or be fired. Would you like some more opinion?

8, that was a lot of “blah, blah, blah, but you still didn’t answer my question!!

How am I (and countless other small business owners) riding off the coat tails of the unions!

I used to be a small business owner too 70 or so. It’s tough. Need to know the nature of your business and I will tell you.

Nature of my business? How about you pick any small business, perhaps a convenience store, a muffler or automotive shop, a restaurant, a clothing retailer, a carpet cleaning business, a gas station/car wash, pick one or pick two and tell me how the owners are riding off of the coat tails of the unions!