BC Teachers Adamant, Government Stubborn, Impasse Continues As Students Suffer

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By Krishen Bector

B.C. Teachers’ Union calls for binding arbitration to end strike, but  the government has all but ruled out the notion, saying it is reluctant to hand over responsibility to a third party.

“To me, it appears  that there is a lurking  suspicion in the minds of the administrators  that arbitration may not  be fair ,it may have leanings towards the teachers . Also ‘they don’t want  to set a precedent  for other public sector bargaining,  since it would mean surrendering control of the budget to a third party,” writes  Vaughan  Palmer of the Vancouver Sun.

What would be the outcome of BC teachers’ move ‘to vote’ as  the government  has already rejected  the  binding  arbitration. Education Minister, Peter Fassbender is not prepared to accept it and clearly says, “binding  arbitration  is not in the cards.” He also said that he had not seen the details of the binding arbitration proposal and he didn’t relish giving over  their responsibility to a third party to make the decision. In March, 2002, the province cancelled parts of an arbitration settlement reached earlier that year with the B.C. Medical Association-now Doctors  of  B.C. handed by former B.C. Chief Justice Allan McEachern, saying the deal was too expensive for taxpayers.

Since the focus of the strike is to demand additional wages  and benefits, financial implications  of  the strike cannot be ignored. Mike de Jong, Finance Minister says that 226 million surplus is there to balance the budget, but this revenue will not be directed to settle teachers’ dispute. To settle the dispute in entirety , says Jong, we need 300 millions  to make up the gap  to meet  teachers  demand, which  can be raised.

For this  Keith Baldrey of Global TV political reporter puts forth as:

*raise $140.00 on the average on personal income tax or

*increase the sales tax to 7.5% or

*increase 5 cent per litre or

*average increase of $200.00 to school property tax

I think neither the teachers nor the parents are willing to be taxed to the tune of this. This is to rob Peter to pay Paul.

What appears to be a wide gap between the province and the BCTF on issues including wages and benefits makes a legislative settlement more likely, says Mark Thompson, a labour expert and professor emeritus at University of British Columbia’s Sauder School of Business.

The education minister has repeatedly said the government will not use legislation to order teachers back to work.

The  court rulings, the latest  this January, have found the provincial legislation violated teachers’

rights. The government appealed  the most recent decision. The appeal is to be heard in October,2015.

Passersby honking in front of striking  teaches  is not a clear indication that they are supportive of the teachers. There is a mixed reaction which is evident from the following:

On Sunday dozens of parents gathered outside the Vancouver Art Gallery to show their anger at

the BCTF as they said BCTF is prolonging the strike.

In Surrey ,however, parents  gathered to voice their anger at the government for rejecting

binding arbitration.

So far Peter Fassbender has  remained  firm that the province wants a negotiated settlement in line with the pay raises  accepted by other government unions.

Similar mixed  reaction is on the daily dole of $40.00 to be given to student under 13 per pay during the strike period. This is not neither a solution nor a solid relief to the parents. This is basically teachers’ money and should be spent for the improvement  of  schools.

To conclude this, neither parents nor students  ever expected that strike would spill into September. Parents are desperate to send their kids to schools so are the students impatient to go back to schools.

Both the sides are battling at the cost of the studies of the students. Leaving aside the legal issues, Iike class size and composition or improvement in special education, students are sidelined and will

continue to be ignored  as long as the strike continues. Ignoring  all this, union has resumed picketing this week and announced plans to air radio ads targeting the provincial government. It has promised rallies outside the offices of the premier and several cabinet ministers next week if there’s no deal by then.

Krishan Bector is a Retired Teacher Educator ( India ).