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SEPTEMBER 24, 2014
Schools back on course
Strike end sees teachers, students back in classrooms Carole Rooney Free Press
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Last week’s end to the teachers’ strike saw students in the province start their school year on Sept. 22 – three weeks later than usual. On Sept. 18, the British Columbia Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) members voted 86 per cent to ratify the agreement reached with the government’s bargaining agent, the BC Public School Employers’ Association (BCPSEA), two days before. Education Minister Peter Fassbender says the six-year contract is an “historic opportunity” to work together for students and focus on the path forward. “On behalf of government, I want to thank and congratulate B.C. teachers for voting in favour of the agreement reached earlier this week between the BCTF and BCPSEA bargaining teams. “We have one of the best public education systems in the world, and that’s in large part because we have such great teachers.” While a great many parents, students and teachers in B.C. are relieved to be back on course, Cariboo Chilcotin Teachers’
Association president Murray Helmer would not go so far as to say local teachers are happy with the deal. “I think they know it is the best deal available to them at this point in time and that it will achieve some improvements in the classroom, but it probably doesn’t go far enough,” says Helmer. “But, at least it is a start in the right direction.” Class size and composition issues are addressed through the agreement’s new Education Fund. Helmer says that is an improvement over the previous Learning Improvement Fund because it will fund only bona fide teacher positions – not support staff. “There will be more professional teachers in the system as a result of it.” Primarily intended to address special needs supports in classrooms, the individual school boards will work with the principals and teachers, and then bring recommendations to Helmer and other BCTF local presidents to help determine where the money will go, he explains. Helmer adds even with the agreed-upon 7.25 per cent pay increase over the sixyear contract term, teachers’ wages in B.C. will remain amongst the lowest in Canada. “But, I guess it’s realistic in the government’s way of thinking.”
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Carole Rooney photo
Colton Sanford, left, and his brother, Reichert Sanford, eagerly marched down the sidewalk at 100 Mile House Elementary School to begin their classes on Sept. 22. The start of the school year was delayed three weeks due to a lengthy labour dispute that saw teachers on strike since mid-June.