Teachers Strike Vote Today

Wednesday, June 07, 2006 04:00 AM

Nearly 1,200 teachers in the Prince George District are eligible to vote today on a call for strike action The B.C. Teachers Federation called for the strike vote to back their position in the contract negotiations with the B.C. Public School Employers Association.

The two sides are still far apart, with the BCPSEA offering a four year deal that would give the teachers increases of 1.5% in the first year, 2% in years two and three, and 2.5% in the final year. That’s a total of 8 percent.

The teachers have been calling for 24%, which BCTF President Jinny Sims says is a reflection of the Provincial Government’s own research which indicated B.C. Teachers were about 20% behind their counterparts in Alberta and Ontario, and a little extra to cover inflation.

In a webcast to teachers, Sims says teachers have public support “The public still believes even today, that you do an amazing job, you do a very difficult job and that you need and deserve a competitive wage”. In the webcast Sims says it is important a strike vote is held now so there is enough time to carry on with what she calls serious bargaining before the June 30^th deadline. That is the day the Teachers contract runs out, and the Government will no longer offer incentives for reaching a tentative settlement.

Sims says it is important teachers stand together now, as this four year contract will carry through till after the Olympics “If any of us think there is going to be money around to address public sector bargaining, to address our critical issues like salary, then we’re drinking something….I’m not!”

Results of the vote will be made public Friday morning.

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Posted on Wednesday, June 07, 2006 04:00 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on June 7 2006 5:40 AM

The only solution is for teachers, that want the Alberta or Ontario wage, is to move to where the big wages are. Just like out in the real world where people go to places like Ft McMurray for big wages.
Or if there is something that the Chinese are offering teachers that BC doesn't or won't, and teachers want it, move to China.

Otherwise shut up and get on with the job. People are getting more disgusted with the teachers BcSf by the day.

Posted by: lunarguy on June 7 2006 5:52 AM

Teachers you have my support but unfortunately your union has caused me not to support the movement. I understand there is a shortage of teachers in the traditionally hard to fill areas like Math 11,12, French and Trades but I do not believe overall the whole profession deserves a 24% pay increase. Take the same increase as the rest of the public workforce. In the offer to your union there is a provision for extra pay for those teachers in the hard to fill areas to try and attract and retain them, just like in any profession some are valued more than others.
The final straw for me was when the BCTF advised teachers they are not to take on roles of leadership in the schools and not to participate in School Planning Councils. By not being able to lead, that also takes away initiative. The students notice that as there are some teachers who are just there for the pay check and then again there are lots that are there for the children.
Please parents get involved with your schools and see what is truly going on. Join your PAC, SPC or just volunteer at the school. If you don�t know PAC or SPC are acronyms for then you really need to get involved !

Posted by: acrider54 on June 7 2006 6:21 AM

I support the teachers 100%. Remember Yamadoo, the Liberals say the economy is doing so well it is par with Alberta, well then pay up and quit stuffing the money into their friends pockets and pay what out teachers are worth. I hope they don't take your advise and move on leaving B.C. children under educated and making the minimun wage of $8.00 per hour or training wage of $6.00 the rest of thier lives.

Posted by: diplomat on June 7 2006 9:18 AM

Jinny Sims thrives on activist controversy. It ensures her extremely generous salary and benefits. If common sense would be given a chance she would be out of a job and out of the public limelight. Surely she has provincial or even federal political ambitions, like Heddy Fry and others before her.

The economy of B.C. is recovering but the seven million dollars that are required DAILY to pay the interest on the debt of the province are a burden that Alberta does not carry, because Alberta is debt free.

Seven million dollars per day would go a long ways to address some of the perceived injustices. Teachers teach mathematics and should be able to do the simple arithmetic with a pen and paper.

Perhaps those who nonchalantly plunged the province into deeper debt can learn a few lessons from what the consequences are today.

Or, maybe not...going by the endless militant threats.

Posted by: kootenayguy9 on June 7 2006 9:30 AM

I was a teacher in BC until 2002 and now teach full time for the Calgary Board of Education. Best move I ever made...........:)

Posted by: lou on June 7 2006 10:01 AM

Teachers--get real.
No one will get 24% over 3 years.
Take the 8% over 4 years like the rest of us.
I am not walking the line with you again so you can turtle like last time.
Do not cost me my bonus.

Posted by: Dirtyrottenresearcher on June 7 2006 11:52 AM

I support the teachers 100%. Signing bonuses suck as they aren't money that goes on pension, and they are taxed. The signing bonuses that some unions took are a joke. I will be walking with teachers, best wishes for a fair collective agreement.

Posted by: Big_B on June 7 2006 3:30 PM

Kids aren't important in our culture.

That's the mesage we constantly send out.

Why would you pay a teacher more. Kids aren't important, nor is the work of those who choose to take care of future generations. If they were adults, they'd really matter, and we could pay teachers more. However, kids aren't important, so why pay more.

I am not a teacher, so I cannot comment on their workload, but from what I have seen, they really are overworked and underpaid.

But, kids aren't important, so why should teachers get a raise.

We pay people more to extract logs from the bush and turn them into lumber, but we won't invest in kids, because trees are more important.

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on June 7 2006 10:40 PM

Big_B, one has to be careful not get brain washed by the BctF. The nanny state would totally suit the aims of the BctF, but most of us would rather raise our own kids.
The fact that you are on this blog says you vote no to the BctF. You became a strong willed person out of a system the BcfT wants to have us forget about.
Kids are important. Don't let the BctF hold the kids as blackmail.
The morals of the BcfT is not something you want your kid to learn.

Posted by: Big_B on June 8 2006 8:59 AM

Kids are not important.

We say they are, but when those who spend the most time with them nuturing them want more money, people call them greedy.

Desks are easy to make, clerks in the supermarket merely scan items. Doctors get paid very well for the work they do and rightly so. They didn't sit on their asses and toughed it out through university and residency to get where they are.

Tech guys work with machines that are built on logic and don't have learning disabilities and social problems.

Here's some other stats. The average Canadian mother spends 3 minutes a day in meaningful conversation, while the average Canadian dad spends 48 seconds (This is outside of the regular, eat your peas, sit up straight, go to bed type conversations).

Those supervisors who look after kids at lunchtime and recess are grossly underpaid as well.

Why would you pay them more?

Kids are not important.

I owe what I am today to one teacher who never gave up on me, when tons of other people had. I still feel indebted to him to this day.

He knew I was important.

Sadly, he is one of very few.

Posted by: Smooth on June 8 2006 6:13 PM

kb

Starting wage is not $50,000, and putting a ~ in front of it when you're ~18% off really invalidates everything else you have to say. Out of curiosity why did you not round it to $40,000 where you would have been much closer? Where do you get your $50,000 info from?

7 hour days? Where do you get this from? I am currently in my first year of teaching so go ahead and say my argument is biased, but you will not be able to find it unfactual. Of course my first year will probably be my busiest, but i have been doing 10-12 hour days + time on my weekends. That number does not include coaching which I do voluntarily as do all others.

This year I have 102 students and I had 4 parents show up for parent teacher interviews. Pretty sick isn't it. Why should I care if the kids own parents don't? The answer to that is because in most cases I spend more time with many of them than their parents do and they need me.

smooth

Posted by: Chester on June 8 2006 8:41 PM

More money will do nothing to change the attitude some teachers have been afflicted with.

If they are tired, retire.

If they are frustrated, quit and do something else.

If they can't make it financially, take on a part-time job or get a higher paying job.

Their job is extremely important. Our children are even more important.

My son has just graduated with his Batchelor of Education. I understand the workload. I understand the class sizes. I understand the dissapointment in the compensation levels. Going on strike will not generate my support or sympathy.

I will encourage my son to follow his heart. To stand on his values. To do what is right. To do more than he is being paid to do. To give more than he receives. To try to love everyone. To leave a place in better condition than he found it. To do more than is expected of him. To leave this earth better off for his contributions during his time here. I don't have all the answers and I know that Jinny Simms and her board don't either. So, choose your issues and begin to improve things. Chester

Posted by: lou on June 10 2006 8:51 AM

Teachers are told by the Goverment to PASS the kids no matter what-if they have learned something or not.
Teachers are just highly paid babysitters-overpaid babysitters.