I N S I D E : Ashcroft is blooming. Page 7
Journal ASHCROFT t CACHE CREEK
Volume 119 No 21 PM # 400121123
The
Thursday, May 22, 2014
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BCTF starts rotating strikes
Clinton had a Ball Her Honour Judith Guichon, Lieutenant Governor of B.C. addresses the crowd last week at the 147th annual Clinton Ball. (Below) Councillor Wayne Marchant (MC for the Ball) escorted Her Honour Judith Guichon in the Grand March. More on p. 12. Photos by Susan Swan
by Tom Fletcher Black Press Gold Trail teachers are scheduled to take part in province-wide rotating strikes on Mon., May 26 The B.C. Teachers’ Federation plans to start one-day rotating strikes at schools around the province on Monday, rejecting the offer of a $1,200 signing bonus for an agreement by the end of the school year. BCTF president Jim Iker said Tuesday the bonus doesn’t make up for the government’s wage offer of 6.5 per cent over six years. A simultaneous threat to cut teacher wages five per cent or more because of strike action is “just so disrespectful, so unnecessary, and we’ll be dealing with it at the Labour Relations Board,” Iker said. Unless there is some compromise on major issues, one-day strikes with picket lines will be staged at one group of school districts in each of the first four days next week, with teachers returning to work across the province on Friday, May 30. Education Minister Peter Fassbender said the signing bonus and reducing the contract term from 10 years to six were significant efforts to move toward a settlement. “Unfortunately the announcement today says that the BCTF feels that disrupting classrooms, affecting children and their families is going to help to reach a settlement,” Fassbender told reporters in Vancouver. Iker reiterated the union’s position that more pay, more teachers and a return to contract language guaranteeing class size and special needs support are needed to reach a settlement. Peter Cameron, chief negotiator for the province’s 60 school districts, informed the union last week that a five per cent pay cut will be put in place “soon” in response to the first phase of strike action.
The BCTF began work-to-rule action in April, refusing supervision outside classrooms and communication with school management. Rotating strikes were also authorized by the BCTF membership in a March vote, and beginning to shut down schools could result in an effort to cut teacher pay by 10 per cent. Cameron said last week the union’s latest wage demand amounts to 15.9 per cent over four years, far beyond what other provincial public service unions have received. The BCTF maintains its wage proposal is 13.25 per cent over four years, including costof-living increases based on each year’s inflation rate.
Clinton Ball hosts Lt. Gov. by Susan Swan The weather didn’t cooperate but that didn’t deter those attending the 147th Clinton Annual Ball on Saturday, May 17. With Her Honour Judith Guichon, Lieutenant Governor of BC in attendance as well as Cathy McLeod, MP Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo and not one but two MLAs, Jackie Tegart and Eric Foster, it was an evening of pomp and ceremony. Prior to the arrival of the Hat Creek Ranch stagecoach bearing the dignitaries, Councillor Susan Swan addressed those assembled, explaining the protocol for hosting the Lieutenant Governor. With bag pipes and an RCMP and Rocky Mountain Ranger escort, Her Honour entered the Clinton Memorial Hall along with the other dignitaries. Mayor Jim Rivett welcomed the special guests and introduced the Head Table. See BALL on p. 12
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