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Labour dispute on back burner for school year

The relationship between B.C. teachers and government remains on the mend, but a new teachersB次元官网网址 contract has put discord on temporary hiatus
Reynolds back to school
French Immersion teacher Julie Fisher goes through books as she cleans shelves to get ready for the new school year at Reynolds secondary school.

The relationship between B.C. teachers and government remains on the mend, but a new teachersB次元官网网址 contract has put discord on temporary hiatus as schools in Greater Victoria open this week B次元官网网址 although not everyone was celebrating.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 mixed emotions for sure,B次元官网网址 said Sean Hayes, president of the Saanich School District TeachersB次元官网网址 Association. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 relief that weB次元官网网址檙e entering the school year in a much more settled state with the prospects of a quiet and relatively peaceful year.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 a relief, but weB次元官网网址檙e also not happy because the major issues for teachers remain unchanged: oversized classes, poor support for special needs students and dwindling resources.B次元官网网址

After a year of stalled contract negotiations and six months of work-to-rule job action culminating in a walkout last March, B.C.B次元官网网址檚 41,000 public school teachers came to a collective agreement on June 26.

The short-term contract, which is valid until June 2013, offers some degree of relief for Hayes. But others, such as Greater Victoria TeachersB次元官网网址 Association president Tara Ehrcke, stands vehemently against the plan.

Though unlikely, the possibility exists of job disruptions through the fall, Ehrcke said.

B次元官网网址淭here will be a lot of teachers returning to school this fall with a real sense of disappointment and weB次元官网网址檙e also going to see some larger classes than weB次元官网网址檝e seen in a number of years,B次元官网网址 Ehrcke said. B次元官网网址淚 wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be surprised to see individual teachers taking a step back from some extracurricular activities, simply because they have larger classes and more responsibilities.B次元官网网址

Although teachers are happy to be heading back to work fully and completely, Hayes said, they are upset about how the last round of bargaining went.

B次元官网网址淭here may be a little holdover,B次元官网网址 he added.

During an Aug. 28 teleconference, Education Minister George Abbott said he was hoping for a much more positive, harmonious year in terms of labour relations.

B次元官网网址淲e do have the second year of the two-year agreement still to go,B次元官网网址 Abbott said. B次元官网网址淭hat will likely see, perhaps in March or April, a recommencement of bargaining discussions, but IB次元官网网址檓 hoping that this year gives us an opportunity to try to build at least a little better relationship between government and the teachersB次元官网网址 federation and between government educational partners, including the teachersB次元官网网址 federation.B次元官网网址

Abbott will not be involved in much of those discussions, however, since after 16 years as an MLA, he announced Thursday that he would not seek re-election in the spring.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e been in the same drama for 40 years,B次元官网网址 Thomas Fleming, University of Victoria professor emeritus in education, said in an interview earlier this year.

B次元官网网址淭eachers complaining about government; government saying teachers are withholding services. The dialogue doesnB次元官网网址檛 change; the actors donB次元官网网址檛 change. Essentially this dialogue is no dialogue. ItB次元官网网址檚 not going any place. ItB次元官网网址檚 a system built for another age.B次元官网网址

Despite the history of unrest at the provincial level, teachers and administrators are expecting a relatively calm school year across the region.

After 11 years as superintendent of the Greater Victoria School District, John Gaiptman said 2011-12 was by far the most difficult year in the role, and like others on both sides of the dispute, heB次元官网网址檚 looking forward to a smoother road ahead.

B次元官网网址淟ast year was a tough year on everybody,B次元官网网址 Gaiptman said. B次元官网网址淭his year we are really focused on the important things and the important thing is creating classes that are flexible and relevant and engaging for our students B次元官网网址 that will be the reason for any actions we take.B次元官网网址

nnorth@saanichnews.com

 

 

 





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