As I near the end of my 30 years of teaching, I am dismayed and angry at the tenor of the legislation that the minister of education has enacted.
I understand if the public feels that the zero mandate pay increase is warranted for public servants, although the lack of revenue might also be affected by the fact that the government has cut the corporate tax rate to 10 per cent.
At this time, though, I would say that a pay increase has been supplanted by other concerns.
I am angrier at the methods the government is employing and the areas that they have targeted. The government, definitely a party in these negotiations, has dictated what a mediator can and cannot address. Everything that is to be considered, such as seniority for hiring, professional development, and exceeding class size and composition, are issues that the government and BCPSEA want to change. There is nothing from the teacher’s position.
How can it be called mediation if only one side will be affected?
I think this government may accomplish what it wants through this legislation, but they will have burned a bridge in doing so.
In the future, if/when teachers withdraw from their voluntary service to the students and teach according to the contract, I’m sure there will be lots of accusations, such as teachers don’t really care about the kids, and they’re only in it for the benefits and the money.
I can only hope that the public remembers what the catalyst was that caused this change in our public schools.
Dave Stevens
Delta
