Teachers, students and parents are understandably frustrated and angered by the Liberal government’s continued roadblocks to finding a settlement to the current dispute with BC teachers.
Every effort by the BCTF to negotiate, mediate and even arbitrate has been met with a resounding “no” from the government. Government negotiator Peter Cameron confirmed the position in media interviews this past weekend by saying, “When the BCTF says [the government] is not moving, they’re right!” How can a settlement ever come if one side is unwilling to look for solutions, especially when that side has twice been found guilty of breaking contracts and bargaining in bad faith?
To add insult to injury, the government introduced E80 which, essentially, is a provision that would supersede and replace all rulings, past and future, regarding class size, composition, and staffing levels. In other words, this provision makes any future court rulings meaningless. Teachers will never agree to something that so fundamentally violates our Charter of Rights.
It has become more and more clear that this attack by the BC Liberal government is an ideological assault on unions, specifically the BCTF, and has nothing to do with education. Instead, Christy Clark is using students in what appears to be a personal vendetta against teachers.
The only way this government is going to move is if it members, like MLA Jordan Sturdy, find the courage to stand up to the cynical efforts of its leaders. It’s time for Liberal backbenchers to show their colours and take a stand either for their political masters or for education.
Sea-to-Sky Teachers' Association
