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Y O U R C O M M U N I T Y N E W S PA P E R • F O U N D E D I N 1 8 9 1 • W W W. T H E P R O G R E S S . C O M • F R I D AY, J U LY 4 , 2 0 1 4
Mediation bid fails in teacher talks
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Tom Fletcher Black Press A B.C. Supreme Court justice has concluded the B.C. Teachers’ Federation and the B.C. government are too far apart on wages and working conditions for mediation to be effective. The B.C. Public School Employers’ Association and the BCTF confirmed Wednesday that Justice Stephen Kelleher has taken part in “exploratory” talks in recent days to seek an end to the teacher strike that wiped out the last two weeks of the school year. “He had some exploratory discussions with the parties and determined that mediation is not indicated at this time,” said an agreed statement by both parties. Education Minister Peter Fassbender said the BCTF’s total compensation demands are still more than twice what other government unions have settled for. The union’s benefit demands alone represent an additional $225 million a year, Fassbender said. Those include increases to preparation time, pregnancy and parental leave, extended health and dental and substitute teacher compensation. “There is no process and no mediator that can bridge this gap at this time,” Fassbender said. “To pretend otherwise only raises false expectations and serves to delay the tough decisions the BCTF executive needs to make to get to an affordable agreement.” BCTF president Jim Iker said the government placed unacceptable pre-conditions on wage negotiations going to mediation. “At this point, with the government maintaining entrenched positions that are unfair and unreasonable, mediation will not be able to move forward,” Iker said. “We will keep the lines of communication open in July to restart bargaining if the government is ready to make a real effort and bring the necessary funding to the table.” BCPSEA has proposed a 7% pay increase over six years, plus a $1,200 signing bonus with a deadline that expired June 30. The BCTF has countered 8% over five years with a proposed $5,000 bonus, to make up for a year the union has worked under an expired contract.
Local aboriginal singer-songwriter, Inez Jasper, performs during the Canada Day celebrations at the Chilliwack Landing site on Tuesday. For more images, turn to page 21 and go online to theprogress.com/community. JENNA HAUCK/ PROGRESS
Monster sockeye run set to make big waves Jennifer Feinberg The Progress Sockeye by the thousands could start swimming up the Fraser River shortly. The prized red sockeye entering the river now are the offspring of the 2010 run — the largest sockeye return on the Fraser in the last 100 years. This year is shaping up to be similar in scope, with a mid-range forecast by Fisheries and Oceans Canada officials set at 23 million sockeye. The bulk of it will be in the late run which includes the prodigious Adams River stock. “The early Stuart run is just starting to enter the Fraser
River,” said Jennifer Nener, DFO area director for the Lower Fraser. There were just a handful counted since test fishing started. “We need considerably more data before considering any openings,” she said. They’ll know more in a few short weeks. Fishermen are checking their gear. Guiding outfits are hiring and booking like mad. Tackle stores are adding inventory. Many are watching the test fishery numbers with considerable interest.The computer modelling puts the estimated Fraser return total anywhere between about 7 million and 70 million sockeye.
Sto:lo fisher and Grand Chief Ken Malloway said he figures the 23 million estimate is on the conservative side. “I say it may be closer to 30 million,” he said. “I’m getting pretty anxious.” The FSC fishery won’t open until the numbers in the river are higher, but they might also open the dry rack fishery. Regardless of the exact numbers, this season is going to have broad local impacts. Aboriginal, commercial, and sport fishery opportunities for Fraser sockeye are all expected to open at various times this season. One concern raised by conservation groups is the that the
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exploitation rate on Interior Fraser Coho will be going up to 16 per cent, from three per cent. The “exploitation” rate is the limiting of unintentional bycatch by commercial fishers to protect the endangered species. Coho and sockeye tend to comigrate through the system, and get caught in the nets together. It’s only for one year, said Nener, and the rationale for a higher rate is to better manage the sockeye and the coho. Coho numbers have improved. “I’ve never seen it that high,” said Malloway about the bycatch. Continued: SOCKEYE/ p4
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