Done Deal, Teachers Approve Contract

Friday, September 08, 2006 08:57 PM

Parents across the province can relax. B.C.'s nearly 40,000 elementary and secondary school teachers have ratified a 5 year contract.

The agreement was approved by 93.4% of the 25,129 teachers who cast a ballot.

The Teachers Federation says the settlement offers "increased stability in the public education system and allows us to focus on the joy of teaching and learning. It was teachers' determination and courage that made these gains possible."

The BC Teachers Federation says it will continue to press for improvements in class size and composition as well as support for students who have special needs.

The agreement carries through to June 30th of 2011. The wage increase could top 16% for some as the package includes not only a 12% general wage increase over the term of the deal, but there are provisions for:

2% allowance to offset the BCTF funding its own long-term disability program,
0.5 % incentive to encourage teachers to join rural and remote school districts, and
1.5-per-cent average wage increase to standardize salary grids across districts.

There is also a $4000 payment to teachers which is made up of a $3700 incentive and a further $300 for supplies.

Previous Story - Next Story

Email |

Print |

Facebook |

Twitter |

Digg |

Del.icio.us

Posted on Friday, September 08, 2006 08:57 PM in News by 250 News

Return to Home

Comments

Posted by: Gofaster on September 9 2006 5:39 AM

The last line covers it.....
the rest looks pretty anemic....
glad it is done....
if they are happy then I guess it really doesn't matter to me anymore.....

Posted by: trusted on September 9 2006 8:15 PM

They sure showed the government who had the power.
Funny how we all thought it was about the money, and what it boiled down to is they wanted to make certain they were paid enough to make them good teachers who really cared about educating their students.
Aw shucks!
I have been wrong before.
Sure wish I could hold someone legally at ransom and get paid thousands
Not really!
I have self respect anyhow.

Posted by: Palopu on September 9 2006 9:33 PM

The Government broke it back and I suspect almost broke the bank to get agreements with all the Government workers, hospitals, teachers, etc.

Did you notice that most if not all the agreements were for four or five years, and that there were incentives such as signing bonus's etc.

These agreements will get the Government through the 2010 Olympics and the next election, without any labour disputes, and I suspect this is what it was all about, and to H with the cost.

Look for a different attitude after 2010. In the meantime all the Government workers (Including the Teachers) can enjoy their new found prosperity, at taxpayers expense.

Posted by: Chester on September 9 2006 9:47 PM

Teachers Federation said, "allows us to focus on the joy of teaching and learning".

Really! I was under the impression that teachers were overworked, underpaid, under appreciated and extremely unhappy. A few more bucks and a couple less kids in the classroom is going to make you happy? Convince me. Chester