What does it mean: "superior provisions?"

Where the Previous Collective Agreement contains a term or condition which provides additional or superior provisions to those provided in this Collective Agreement, the additional or superior provisions of the Previous Collective Agreement shall remain part of this Collective Agreement. (AIC, Article A.1:4, agreement on final language, May 4, 1998)

If a local collective agreement has better provisions than the Agreement in Committee (AIC), then the local language continues to apply. Any additional provisions also continue in effect. For example, the AIC establishes limits for K-3 and staffing ratios for non-enrolling and ESL teachers. Where it exists, superior language on staffing ratios, class size, or other provisions continues to apply. Here are some examples:

Example 1

The AIC staffing ratio for Teacher-Librarians is 1:702 or one librarian for every 702 students, effective July 1, 1999. School District A has been staffing teacher-librarians at 1:1496. To comply with the AIC, the district will add 13.6 teacher librarians.

School District B has been staffing teacher-librarians at 1:576 before the AIC, a superior provision. District B must continue to staff teacher-librarians at 1:576. The district cannot cut teacher-librarians to match the 1:702 ratio in the AIC.

Example 2

The AIC class-size limit for K-3 in Year One only is 20 for kindergarten and 25 for grade one. School District C has been staffing at 22 for kindergarten and 26 for grade one. The district must add six primary teachers to comply with the AIC.

School District D has been staffing at 20 for kindergarten and 23 for grade one, superior to the AIC. District D must continue to staff primary teachers at 20 for kindergarten and 23 for grade one. The district cannot cut grade one teachers to match the class-size limits in the AIC.

Ratification Vote

The ratification vote will be held between Monday, May 11 and Friday, May 15, 1998. The local is responsible for conducting the vote and has determined voting dates, times, and locations. The vote will be by secret ballot with results reported on a province-wide basis. TOC members and members on leave have the right to vote.

Watch for another Bargaining Bulletin
and check the BCTF Web site for more bargaining information.