Teachers Say Yes to Contract
Vancouver, B.C.- Teachers in B.C. have voted in favour of accepting the contract worked out this week.
BCTF President Jim Iker announces vote results image courtesy LiveStream
In a live webcast from the BCTF offices, BCTF President Jim Iker announced more than 31,741 had cast ballots. 27,275 or 86% voted yes. He said there were more votes cast on this contract than in the past few ratification votes.
“We all know this deal is not perfect” said Iker, but he says there will be more support for students, and all members will get a salary increase.
He offered thanks to parents and students and others in the labour movement for standing with teachers throughout the job action.
“I think what is important here is that each member will be going back and doing what they love doing, and that’s teaching.”
He says the BCTF will continue to advocate to have the education system properly funded, and to improve class composition.
Iker says Superintendents have been advised the lost time in the classroom will not be “made up”.
Comments
Positive wishes going out to teachers and students returning to the classrooms next week … at times like this we need to pause for a moment and reflect on our good fortune at living in a democracy with a solid education and health care system … and respect the professionals that choose to work within the community for the betterment of all … and to all the naysayers, you are welcome to your opinions as that is a freedom that is fundamental to our society
well said anotherside, well said
The freedom of our society allows the yahsayers to participate as well as the naysayers.
The yahsayers are welcome to their opinions whether they are right or wrong.
And so it goes.
very well worded, anotherside. You sound like a very good person.
Pro-D day Monday?
But I still saw them on the picket line at 3pm today….school zones as of monday everyone.
Tina Cousins on the news says things are going to be different, members are going to come back to work with animosity. If this is true there should be a way for school boards to cull the herd, those that don’t want to be there move over so the ones that are there ‘for the children’ and truly love to teach can do so and not have to wait until those with seniority retire. This prevents us from having a democracy with a solid education, those that do not respect their profession or the ones who write their pay checks will be a drag on the system for another 5 years until they can stir the pot once again. A complete rewrite is needed or things will never change in the public system.
“Iker says Superintendents have been advised the lost time in the classroom will not be “made up”.”
Interesting. Sounds like he doesn’t really care bout the kids’ education afterall. If he did, he would have rather said that they would work out something to that end.
Sounds like he’s looking for another fight.
Posted on Friday, September 19, 2014 @ 6:16 AM by Give more
“Iker says Superintendents have been advised the lost time in the classroom will not be “made up”.”
Interesting. Sounds like he doesn’t really care bout the kids’ education afterall. If he did, he would have rather said that they would work out something to that end.
Sounds like he’s looking for another fight.
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This strike has never been about the kids. It has always been about getting more money, better benefits and more time off for the teachers. The only reason they kept mentioning the kids was to garner public support.
It was nice to see the government throw all that rhetoric back in their faces and offer them a deal that actually puts the kids first.
axman:
“This strike has never been about the kids.”
Really good to finally get an insightful expert opinion. Sorry axman, that isn’t you
Posted on Friday, September 19, 2014 @ 6:58 AM by karrman
axman:
“This strike has never been about the kids.”
Really good to finally get an insightful expert opinion. Sorry axman, that isn’t you
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You’re a funny little man. Irrelevant but funny.
Good to see the deal is done. Iker was in way over his head and it will be nice not to have to hear from him for a while. I expect the teachers will be reviewing his leadership to see if they still want him at the helm.
Simply by watching the various press releases throughout this dispute, I know that I would prefer Jim Iker at the helm of any ship rather than Christy Clark or Peter Fassbender. He came across as being genuine and calm rather than angry and gushing. He had a hell of a job to do and pulled it off with class.
Iker came across as an rank amateur. They lost public support solely because of this “kid’s First” nonsense. Just quit the reading from the talking points, it makes you appear as if you lack any conviction or substance.
Vincent; Take a drive out to Topley & check out Iker’s rental properties, talk to the residents of Topley, ask them their view of how he has managed his rentals. You may change your mind as to wanting him at the helm of even a row boat. If I were a teacher I would not want anyone who can not look after their own interests looking out for mine. As was stated, Iker was out of his league.
@vincent “He came across as being genuine and calm”
He had to be because he had to do a lot of thinking not to give away that he was misleading the media. He had to make sure and phrase things a certain way so as to not step on his own tongue. It did work for most people and media who did not fact check to see if he was telling the ‘whole truth’ and not just snippets.
For example, he dropped the BCTF proposed settlement by 150 million and the government had not moved. Total lie as they had in fact moved but were keeping to the media blackout on the details, which is what frustrated Fassbender and others.
So many whiners, so many experts!
Well said Vincent, well said!
Why is it most other unions can do a deal, and have strike pay to back up their membership, but the BCTF slams in to a brick wall no matter whose in power AND have NO strike pay for their membership? Anyone think maybe, not only a change in leadership, but just maybe a forensic audit. How does one organization collect that much money in union dues and it’s gone?
And don’t give me that “They spent it all in court” I know what lawyers can charge and even if it was a million bucks, that leaves me wondering where the rest went. A good leader never would have had his membership on the picket line in the first place, a deal would have been done.
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