daily townsman
Page 4 Friday, May 30, 2014
Local NEWS Teachers’ rotating strikes will Bennett, Macdonald tangle over Bill 24 continue next week, union says Barry Coulter and Bl ack Press
The B.C. Teachers’ Federation has notified school districts it will continue rotating strikes around the province next week, as negotiations continue to settle their long-running dis-
pute over pay and staffing levels. BCTF president Jim Iker notified the B.C. Public School Employers’ Association in a letter Wednesday. In the East Kootenay, School District 6 — Kootenay-Columbia — and
School District 5 — Southeast Kootenay, including Cranbrook — will be hitting the bricks on Friday, June 6. That day was originally scheduled to be a Professional Development Day in SD5, so students would have had the day
Employer tells labour board it’s entitled to chop teachers’ pay C ANADIAN PRESS
VANCOUVER — A lawyer representing the employer in the B.C. teachers’ contract dispute says it’s entitled to deduct 10 per cent pay during union strike action because teachers are working fewer hours and providing irregular instruction. Eric Harris, who represents the B.C. Public
School Employers’ Association, asked the provincial Labour Relations Board to find that employers have the right to continue a lockout. Harris told the board that the lockout doesn’t impact essential services or put student safety at risk. He says the 10 per cent clawback is significantly less than the cal-
culation the union itself has made in determining the value of the work teachers have been doing. The union, which will lay out its case this afternoon, is disputing the pay cut and other lockout provisions, which began Monday at the same time teachers across the province began rotating strikes.
off anyway. Education Minister Peter Fassbender reiterated the BCPSEA’s latest offer of a $1,200 signing bonus and a six-year contract term, but indicated the union needs to modify its demands and stop strike action. “I’m profoundly disappointed that while we’re still at the table, with all of the talk that’s been going on, that children and parents and communities are continuing to be held hostage and put in the middle of this dispute,” Fassbender said. The Labour Relations Board is to hear arguments Thursday on whether the school districts can cut teacher pay 10 per cent in response to the union’s withdrawal of services.
Group wants demolition rescinded Arne Pe tryshen Townsman Staff
A delegation from the Cranbrook Heritage Association was in city council on May 26 to ask council to rescind the demolition order on the old brick building behind city hall. Last year, council decided to postpone the demolition to allow the group time to fundraise to preserve it, but the order stands.
“We believe that this building will become a key element in the city’s plan to revitalize downtown and repurpose the area around city hall,” said Karen Crawford, president of the association. She showed old photos of heritage buildings that no longer exist in Cranbrook, such as the old post office building. “A past council decided to tear
it down and it was lost on June 29, 1971,” she said. The clock faces and mechanisms later became the clock tower on Baker Street. “Our heritage structures are not easily replaced,” she said. “They hold memories — a link to where we came from.” Council received the information and will decide on removing the order in a future meeting.
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“Despite the fact that Premier Clark promised prior to the election to ‘preserve agricultural land and encourage farming’ and ‘to maintain the excellent relationship we have built with the ALC’, following the 2013 election she chose Pimm as Minister of Agriculture and Bennett as Minister of Core Review to spearhead significant changes to the ALR. Bill 24 is the disastrous result.” The emails were written on July 30 and 31, 2012. The July 30 email from Bill Bennett to then Agriculture Minister Don McRae reads: “…you may recall a discussion we had in Caucus when proposed changes to your legislation were discussed…. Premier Clark was present and I very deliberately looked her in the eye and made direct reference to the fact that she was present for this discussion. Your apparent lack of recollection about this commitment during your trip here was surprising and concerning.” And then on July 31, from Pimm to Bennett: “…every time I try to contact Mr Bulluch (sic) I am told that he is an arms length body and for me to get the hell out of his hair. Who the hell is running our Province anyways. Here is an opportunity to actually muster up some support for our team but instead we will ignore it and go
GIVE US YOUR FEEDBACK
out and find some way to give the Indians more money which doesn’t get me one vote! I am getting very tired of this kind of nonsense.”
Bill Bennett
Norm Macdonald “In a few short hours, the BC Liberal government will force through legislation that will significantly weaken the Agriculture Land Commission and will allow any manner of development on agricultural lands,” Macdonald said. “It does absolutely nothing to promote agriculture in this province, it does not support farmers, and lessens our ability to feed ourselves into the future.” “The effects of this legislation will be felt by British Columbians for generations to come, 4-3” x 4” the poand all to satisfy
litical needs of two BC Liberal caucus members.” However, Bennett says that he makes no apologies for representing the wishes of his constituents, who have desired changes to the ALR and the Commission that runs it for years. “Aside from the very unfortunate comment by MLA Pimm about First Nations, which I strongly repudiate, the ALC issues discussed are nothing new,” Bennett said. “Who is surprised that I am a strong representative for my rural constituents who want change? This isn’t vote buying. It is the democratic process and an MLA doing what he is hired to do. “After Bill 24 is passed, the ALC will be just as independent as it was before passage of the bill. That is demonstrably true from a reading of the legislation. “The purpose of the bill is to allow farmers and ranchers the flexibility to use non arable land in ways that help them stay on the farm. For example, putting a food processing facility on a farm, or parking a truck used in another business, or allowing a child to build a home on the farm to help Mom and Dad stay on the farm. “For 13 years my rural constituents have asked for changes. I am not surprised the NDP don’t want government to get any credit for those much needed changes.”
Let us know your thoughts on the draft Watershed Action Plan for the Upper Kootenay River, which includes Koocanusa Reservoir. Join us on June 3 in Cranbrook or online. IN PERSON (no registration required) • Open house: 3 – 6:30 p.m. • Presentation: 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. • Cranbrook Public Library, 1212 2nd Street N. • Snacks and prizes available! ONlINE PRESENTATION (registration required) • 7:30 – 8:30 p.m. • Pre-register for the online presentation by June 2 at cbt.org/ekkfwp. Read the draft plan and learn more at cbt.org/ekkfwp. Funded in partnership by:
DT
CRANBROOK • TUESDAY, JUNE 10