This week’s headlines:
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A decade of lost bargaining rights
On Friday, January 27, teachers across BC wore black to mark the 10th anniversary of Bills 27 and 28 that stripped collective agreements of class-size, composition, and specialist service levels’ language, and vapourized 10 local collective agreements.
In passing these bills, the provincial government effectively ended free collective bargaining rights and saved more than $3 billion on the backs of teachers. Thousands of teaching positions have been lost, hundreds of schools closed, tens of thousands of classes oversized, and services for special needs drastically reduced.
An article that looks back to 2002 is in the Teacher newsmagazine for January/February 2012, which can be accessed on the BCTF home page at bctf.ca.
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A show of strength on the bridges
On Saturday, January 28, presidents, local representatives, bargaining chairs, and members of the Executive Committee attending the Representative Assembly, assembled on the bridges in and around Vancouver and Richmond marking the 10th anniversary of the day of protest of Bills 27 and 28 of 2002. Holding signs, waving flags and banners, the message that the cuts must end and bargaining rights restored, was sent clearly for all to see.
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BC has the lowest level of education funding
The provincial government has increased funding by a mere $3 million. This has BC committing the lowest level of funding out of all the provinces. The most recent Statistics Canada report shows that while funding for elementary and secondary public schools increased across Canada between 2005–06 and 2009–10, BC ranked near the bottom in terms of the percentage increase in education expenditures, in all key areas.
Members can read the full report prepared by BCTF Research by going to: http://www.bctf.ca/publications.aspx?id=5630.
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The end of the BC College of Teachers
The BC College of Teachers has been replaced by a new arm of the Ministry of Education known as the Teacher Regulation Branch. The Teachers Act that established the Teacher Regulation Branch includes sweeping changes in structures and operations. Many of these changes severely restrict the role and participation of teachers and create a discipline focused organization without any vestige of self-regulation.
There is now only one category of membership—practising; this has had a negative impact on both retired teachers and those on long-term disability. The fee for 2012–13 will be $80, taken by automatic deduction from all employees’ wages in May.
For a detailed summary of the changes go to the BCTF website at http://www.bctf.ca/uploadedFiles/Public/ProfessionalResponsibility/CollegeOfTeachers/SummaryOfChanges.pdf.
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A new package tabled in bargaining
In an attempt to break the stalemate at the bargaining table, the BCTF tabled a revised and reduced set of proposals. In presenting this change it was hoped that BCPSEA and the government would see this as an opportunity to reconsider the net-zero mandate and work toward a fair deal for teachers. The revised package includes a three-year term providing for cost-of-living increases as well as a modest amount for reducing the gap between BC teachers and most others across Canada. Long awaited improvements in benefits, preparation time, and leaves are also being sought.
Members can see the package in full by going to www.bctf.ca/myBCTF/content.aspx?d=23112.
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New advertising campaign
The BCTF has launched a new advertising campaign in support of collective bargaining and the need for a fair and reasonable contract settlement. The three-week campaign is a combination of television ads, print ads, and online pre-roll ads.
One of the TV ads is a snappy animation called “Problem/Solution” focusing on the difficulties teachers are facing and what is needed. The other TV ad is entitled “Interest” and features actual BCTF members addressing the facts and issues in this round of negotiations.
As one of them says: “It’s time for government to invest a bit more in teachers, and a lot more in kids.”
All elements of the campaign can be viewed on the BCTF web site at: http://bctf.ca/bargainingAndContracts.aspx?id=25078.
They can also be seen on YouTube at:
Problem/Solution: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZBGulkMrjo
Interest: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=DO9c97Tp_h4.
Please share with your friends and colleagues.
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BC Federation of Labour online newspaper
On February 7, the BC Federation of Labour will launch an online newspaper, the BC Federationist. A wide range of content is envisaged that will include stories on the labour movement and current political issues such as the environment, equality, and democracy from a labour perspective.
To subscribe now, visit the BC Federation of Labour website at http://act.bcfed.ca/subscribe-bc-federationist/.
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