A8 • www.oakbaynews.com
OAKBAYNEWS
Wednesday, March 14, 2012 - OAK
EDITORIAL
BAY NEWS
Penny Sakamoto Group Publisher Kevin Laird Editorial Director Laura Lavin Editor Oliver Sommer Advertising Director
The Oak Bay News is published by Black Press Ltd. | 818 Broughton St., Victoria, B.C. V8W 1E4 | Phone: 250-598-4123 • Fax: 250-386-2624 • Web: www.oakbaynews.com
OUR VIEW
Net zero idea not sustainable A net zero per cent wage increase mandate is not such an unreasonable concept in this atmosphere of tough economic times. Looking at the current dispute between the province and B.C. teachers, one of the main issues has been the $2-billion gap on compensation between what the government is prepared to pay, and what the B.C. Teachers’ Federation has asked for. The government calls the union’s demands “unrealistic” given the current economic environment. After the global recession in 2008, the government brought in a net-zero mandate for all public-sector agreements expiring after Dec. 31, 2009. The result is that a salary increase can only happen if there are savings found in other areas of the collective agreement. When agreements expire, especially in the public service, employees have an expectation that they should see some improvement in their new agreement: a wage increase, more paid time off, or that the employer should contribute more towards the employees’ cost of benefits such as extended health and dental. With net zero still being enforced, teachers are in a position where they must decide what they really desire from their contract. If they want an increase in paid sick days, for example, they will need to give up a benefit of equal monetary value to make up the difference. When times are good, the government can afford to increase wages and benefits, but when times are tough, net zero is the way to go. Net zero, however, is far from a sustainable strategy and the government has to start looking ahead to future negotiations. Ironically, the teachers could be among the first to benefit from a non net-zero scenario. The mandate is slated to end June 30, opening up the potential for the teachers’ union to avoid if it delays bargaining long enough. It could have an ‘us too’ effect on more than 100 other agreements signed by other unions since net zero was brought in. One day a settlement will be reached that allows for wage increases, and the floodgates will open. Let’s hope the government has a plan to deal with upcoming agreements that lays the groundwork for future labour peace. What do you think? Give us your comments by email: editor@oakbaynews.com or fax 250-386-2624. All letters must have a name and a telephone number for verification. The Oak Bay News is a member of the British Columbia Press Council, a self-regulatory body governing the province’s newspaper industry. The council considers complaints from the public about the conduct of member newspapers. If talking with the editor or publisher does not resolve your complaint about coverage or story treatment, you may contact the B.C. Press Council. Your written concern, with documentation, should be sent to B.C. Press Council, 201 Selby St., Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 2R2. For information, phone 888-687-2213 or go to www.bcpresscouncil.org.
Cold climate on planet BCTF The stories began tumbling out union radicals, I have had my as soon as last week’s column on office windows smashed twice. I teacher union indoctrination of have seen a mob of self-absorbed students was posted on strikers push a senior our websites. off the sidewalk into Most parents, the snow. My daughter retired teachers and has been subjected to administrators requested hard-left environmental anonymity, because their propaganda in elementary kids and grandkids still school. I’ve never seen have to go to school, or anything quite like this. they have relatives or fairBut hey, let’s be weather friends in the B.C. constructive here. First, Teachers’ Federation who I should emphasize I mustn’t be enraged by understand that these Tom Fletcher incidents do not represent any contradiction of their B.C. Views dogma. the vast majority of There was the Grade dedicated teachers, 3 art class in Langley who wouldn’t think of where students were assigned to intentionally abusing their position create anti-Bill 22 protest signs. for personal or political gain. I mean There was the Grade 6 teacher in that sincerely. Greater Victoria who started a oneAnd thanks to all the teachers hour drill on BCTF talking points who sent me lecturing letters, by telling students not to believe particularly those who insist that anything they see in the media. they don’t really want another There was the middle school in the 16-per-cent raise, because their first Gulf Islands that dismissed students priority is improving classroom early to force them all out in a show resources. of solidarity against the latest of Volume doesn’t permit individual many legislated settlements. responses to everyone. And there were the BCTF-BCGEU Authors who begin along the pickets that blocked entrances lines of “Sir, you are an idiot” to government offices here in receive lower priority. If I don’t get Victoria, harassing, threatening and back to you, please convey your physically blocking office workers willingness to accept a brief wage in an effort to force them to join freeze to your union executive. the thousands bused in for the They’ve scaled back some of their traditional howling show of strength more egregious prep time and paid for Big State Labour bosses on the leave demands, but apparently your legislature lawn. admirably altruistic message has In my 20 years of criticizing the not yet been absorbed. policies and tactics of teacher And yes, I’m aware that the
Harvard study of class size and performance I mentioned last week examined charter schools in the United States. I understand that “charter school” is considered coarse language in B.C. As with health care, there must be no serious competitive dynamic or other dangerous experimentation permitted within the unionized state monopoly model. And thanks for suggesting I’m an agent of the B.C. Liberals, who invented poverty 11 years ago. East Van MLA Jenny Kwan touched on it in the debate on Bill 22. Children coming to inner city schools hungry, inadequately clothed, with lice. Abused children. I can assure Kwan that these tragic realities are not confined to the hellish B.C. Liberal era of spending increases. Indeed, I witnessed all these things in my three-room school in Tomslake, B.C. in the 1960s. Social Credit was to blame then. I remember the school more for its great teachers than its undrinkable water or alcoholic principal. And to all those who provide spelling-challenged advice on journalistic objectivity, here’s the thing. The first rule of opinion writing is to have one. I’m not looking for middle ground in the cold vacuum between Earth and Planet BCTF. Tom Fletcher is legislative reporter and columnist for Black Press and BCLocalnews.com tfletcher@blackpress.ca
‘These incidents do not represent the vast majority of dedicated teachers.’