Today the BCTF made a request for the Labour Relations Board to appoint a mediator to help resolve teacher bargaining. Not only the LRB, but also the Minister can call for various forms of mediation and arbitration to resolve the issue.
Calls and suggestions for this have been made in a number of arenas, including the press. Mediation and arbitration can be effective ways to deal with an impasse. In Saskatchewan, an arbitrator was able to find middle ground in the recent teachers dispute over pay. Back in 2005, after a two week walkout, the BC government agreed to appoint Vince Ready to develop recommendations to end the teachers strike. Although not everything teachers wanted, teachers did vote to accept his recommendations and end the strike.
As I understand the process, the LRB will first approach BCPSEA (the government's bargaining agent) to see if they will agree to mediation. How will they respond? That will be telling. If they refuse, it indicates that the government is unwilling to have a resolution with anything other than getting their way. If they refuse, we can no doubt anticipate a legislated "solution", imposing the governments will. Hardly a way to support collective bargaining in a democratic society. And hardly a way to regain and renew relationships with teachers so critical to enhancing our public education system.
Calls and suggestions for this have been made in a number of arenas, including the press. Mediation and arbitration can be effective ways to deal with an impasse. In Saskatchewan, an arbitrator was able to find middle ground in the recent teachers dispute over pay. Back in 2005, after a two week walkout, the BC government agreed to appoint Vince Ready to develop recommendations to end the teachers strike. Although not everything teachers wanted, teachers did vote to accept his recommendations and end the strike.
As I understand the process, the LRB will first approach BCPSEA (the government's bargaining agent) to see if they will agree to mediation. How will they respond? That will be telling. If they refuse, it indicates that the government is unwilling to have a resolution with anything other than getting their way. If they refuse, we can no doubt anticipate a legislated "solution", imposing the governments will. Hardly a way to support collective bargaining in a democratic society. And hardly a way to regain and renew relationships with teachers so critical to enhancing our public education system.
Sorry but I have NO support for the BC teachers!If you don't like your job, get another one - no one is holding a gun to your head. Think about how you are affecting the working poor and single parent families who have to pay extra for afterschool care with reduced school hours and no more recess for elementary kids in many schools. When unemployment is in the DOUBLE DIGITS - be thankful you have a job and are not subject to performance reviews like the private sector as many would be shocked to see how HARD those of us not hiding behind a "union" actually work - even those of us who have university education and more.
ReplyDeleteThis person is a clueless ranting fool.
DeleteSchool hours are not reduced; parents are not out extra money. And I've worked in both public education and the private sector - the work is equally hard in both, although the nature of the work is different.
DeleteActually, I am not a "clueless ranting fool", but an educated parent who is familiar with the "concerns" of the teachers. SCHOOL HOURS are actually REDUCED in the Nanaimo School District presently as my child is not provided a recess and the end of the school day is now 15 minutes earlier than before the "work to rule" job action by the teachers. For afterschool, parents have been charged for the early 15 minute pick up time as the school day ends at 2:15 now rather than 2:30. I hope that you will understand my frustration since this is ACTUALLY happening in my city where the unemployment rate was 16% last Spring and Nanaimo was recognized as having the highest unemployment rate in British Columbia. THESE ARE THE HARD FACTS. You cannot simply scoff at the concerns of parents and childrens from your glass house. The responses to my ACCURATE post above are humorous in so far as they clearly illustrate the disconnect from reality by educators.
DeleteThe teachers in Nanaimo did not cancel recess. That decision was made by Nanaimo administration. Why is it that other districts continue to provide supervision during recess but Nanaimo can not?
DeleteI'm sorry to hear that you have no support for your children's teachers.
Teachers did not cancel recess. This decision was made by admin. Teachers are on the record as saying they disagree with the cancellation of recess for educational reasons.
DeleteI suggest you do your research and give your child's teacher the respect and support they deserve.
Too bad that you annonymous commentors do not realize that the teachers and their union are working hard for the children in their classes to have a quality public education system. The way the gov is slashing programs and budgets you may very soon have to pay for private tuition for your children to go to school. The teachers are your allies.
ReplyDeleteTo the Anonymous 9:10 blogger- This is not a "work to rule" campaign but is a Teach Only campaign. In a work to rule campaign all teachers withdraw from all voluntary activities. This has not been the case in Phase 1 of the Teach Only Campaign. Teachers are still running clubs and sports teams if they choose to. In the Teach Only campaign any withdrawl from extracurricular activities was by the choice of the teacher with union support.
ReplyDelete