I understand that the BCTF and BCPSEA will be meeting on the 8th to discuss the teachers’ contract. Hopefully this will be two highly educated teams capable of working toward a solution.
The educators teach their students problem-solving skills, conflict resolution and assessing both sides of an issue. To date, this does not seem to have happened.
The BCPC team must have the same training. Until now neither side seems to be listening to the other.
The way I see the situation is that the government does not have the funding to address class composition as they promised no deficit spending during this “down” period.
Also, increases must not exceed previous contract settlements.
BCTF keep bringing up “torn-up”contracts which is now in the court of appeal. Was this contract not signed with the NDP?
Could this be considered a “poison pill” settlement for the new government?
I would suggest that the portion now in court should be removed from negotiations to await a court ruling. The teachers should be offered salary and benefits based on a model of previous public-sector settlements.
I know there are wiser minds than mine working to solve this issue, so get on with it. The clock is ticking.
Eric Myrholm, Abborsford
