BRIDGE LAKE FAIR B1 AUGUST 20, 2014
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Two Sections, 36 pages
100milefreepress.net
COOLING OFF IN CENTENNIAL PARK
NEW MURAL FINISHED UP A3
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About two dozen children and parents played in Bridge Creek, which runs through Centennial Park, in 100 Mile House to beat the heat last weekend.
Ready readies to aid education dispute Accredited mediator to monitor teacher-government talks Carole Rooney Free Press
The British Columbia Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) and the B.C. Public School Employers’ Association (BCPSEA), which are mired in a deadlock over the public teacher contract, have persuaded Vince Ready to monitor the current bargaining situation towards potential mediation. Education Minister Peter Fassbender had agreed on June 20 to accept mediation from Vince Ready, shortly after Ready helped resolve an ongoing dispute between truck drivers and Port Metro Vancouver. This agreement followed a request for mediation by the BCTF, but at that time, Ready was unavailable. Then, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Kelleher was asked
to mediate, but he declined on July 2, citing that the two sides remained too far apart on the contract issues for mediation to be successful. Discussions continued over the summer between BCTF president Jim Iker and BCPSEA chief negotiator Peter Cameron, leading up to a face-to-face session of the two bargaining teams on Aug. 8. A joint press release from the two parties states that following the session, they asked Ready to consider engaging with them in “exploratory talks.” Ready met with the two parties separately on Aug. 13, but committed only to monitoring the situation, and then to resume exploratory talks or commence full mediation when he believes it will be productive, the
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It’s an encouraging development – to know there is at least a step forward being made." - Tanya Guenther release explains. The BCTF and BCPSEA have agreed to refrain from speaking publicly about the situation pending further discussions with Ready. School District #27 chair Tanya Guenther says the trustees have not yet discussed the issue, but she is personally pleased to see this “positive” movement in the ongoing impasse between teachers and government. “It’s an encouraging development
– to know there is at least a step forward being made. Whether there will continue to be steps forward, we’ll have to wait and see.” Guenther says she remains hopeful a negotiated settlement can be reached by September and students can start school as planned. The school board chair adds that, in general, she sees mediation as a useful option to have when difficulties arise in reaching an agreement between the teachers’ union and the province’s negotiators. “It can be beneficial to help them resolve the items, and to help them come to an agreement. “Just like everyone, I am anxiously awaiting a resolution to this round of negotiations and my ultimate wish is that students can be back in school.”