While some Greater Victoria board of education trustees are breathing a sigh of relief over the tentative collective agreement reached between B.C. teachers and the province on Tuesday, others, such as the president of the Greater Victoria TeachersB次元官网网址� Association, are speaking out against the deal.
Despite a recommendation of acceptance from the British Columbia TeachersB次元官网网址� Federation, GVTA president Tara Ehrcke isnB次元官网网址檛 voting in support of the agreement with the British Columbia Public School EmployersB次元官网网址� Association.
B次元官网网址淚 think (the BCTF) was concerned that the government was planning on legislating the concessions they had on the table and it was nervousness of that impending legislation that probably led to the agreement,B次元官网网址� Ehrcke said, noting her decision to vote contrary to the BCTF doesnB次元官网网址檛 reflect a broader decision made by the GVTA.
B次元官网网址淭his agreement doesnB次元官网网址檛 solve any of the issues ... around classroom conditions and reasonable wage increases,B次元官网网址� Ehrcke said.
During the last contract negotiations in 2005, the GVTA did not make a vote recommendation to its members. The outcome of the teachersB次元官网网址� vote on the deal is expected by next Wednesday.
BCPSEA chair Melanie Joy said the tentative agreement standardizes provincial language for the number of leaves and establishes a process for determining local and provincial issues.
Acceptance of the agreement will allow schools to resume classes next fall with teachers resuming extra-curricular activities and meetings with school administration.
Saanich and Sooke teachersB次元官网网址� association presidents, while unwilling to divulge personal votes, conveyed a sense of relief over the agreement.
B次元官网网址淚t caught me a bit off guard,B次元官网网址� said Sean Hayes, president of the Saanich TeachersB次元官网网址� Association. B次元官网网址淚 think it caught a lot of us off guard. By any indication, things werenB次元官网网址檛 going too well. The fact that we have something to vote on is a good thing.B次元官网网址�
Helming the Sooke TeachersB次元官网网址� Association, Patrick Henry is welcoming the tentative agreement as a potential break in the battle between both sides B次元官网网址� one he said is mired in media coverage of the provinceB次元官网网址檚 net zero wage mandate and BCTF salary and benefit requests.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a bittersweet thing,B次元官网网址� Henry said. B次元官网网址淣o one wants to prolong this any longer, anyway.B次元官网网址�
Greater Victoria Board of Education chairperson Peg Orcherton is similarly relieved over what she sees as a very positive sign for the relationship between teachers and the province.
B次元官网网址淚t was a surprise B次元官网网址� a happy surprise,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 hoping this opportunity will give everyone a chance to step back from the brink and collect their breath and their thoughts.B次元官网网址�
Orcherton is hopeful more progress will be made through the fall, including more definition of the split between provincial versus local bargaining issues.
Michael McEvoy, president of the B.C. School TrusteesB次元官网网址� Association called the tentative agreement a small step in the right direction.
B次元官网网址淥ver the last number of months, itB次元官网网址檚 been very, very difficult and weB次元官网网址檙e just very pleased that the parties have resolved and worked so hard to reach a resolution,B次元官网网址� McEvoy said. B次元官网网址淭here are a lot of issues that are off the table and not a part of the resolution here, but thatB次元官网网址檚 a part of collective bargaining. You donB次元官网网址檛 get everything that you want.B次元官网网址�
Less than 24 hours following the announcement of the tentative agreement, the BCTF issued notice of a civil claim in B.C. Supreme Court against the province.
The claim, the in the last 10 days, is formed on the basis that Bill 22 unconstitutionally infringed teachersB次元官网网址� right to free collective bargaining and asserts that governmentB次元官网网址檚 directions to BCPSEA resulted in bad faith bargaining.
-with files from Tom Fletcher
nnorth@saanichnews.ca
