Teachers set to start job action Wednesday; here’s a rundown on what it’s all about

Kamloops teachers will join others across the province tomorrow in limited job action to press their case with the province and with the B.C. Public School Employers Association in contract talks.

Kamloops Thompson Teachers Association executive members won’t comment on the action, but here’s a summary of what it’s all about.

Teachers voted 89 per cent in favour of job action. Starting tomorrow, and for an unspecified period of time, teachers will refuse to accept certain duties including:

• they won’t supervise at recess.

• won’t arrive at work early or stay late.

• won’t attend meetings with management or provide or receive any written, printed or electronic communication with principals or administrators.

However, they will do report cards, continue communicating with parents, and continue coaching.

The B.C. Teachers Federation has the option of escalating job action to rotating strikes, but that would require a second vote by members.

Here’s what the two sides in the dispute say, beginning with the teachers:

• government and BCPSEA continue to demand concessions.

• the government is ignoring a B.C. Supreme Court ruling on class size, composition and staffing levels.

• the 10-year contract term demanded by the employer is unreasonable.

• the salary offer includes “up to two more years of zeros,” specifically it totals 6.5 per cent over the first six years, to be negotiated for the final four years.

• the government is trying to provoke and shut down schools.

* teachers want smaller classes, more one-on-one time for students, more specialist teachers.

* there have been cuts to ESL language programs and teacher librarian time.

• “The government and employers’ unfair positions have barely moved,” says BCTF president Jim Iker.

The government and BCPSEA say:

• there has been “virtually no movement” from BCTF on wage and contract.

• teachers are maintaining an opening position of a 13.5 per cent increase over years (the BCPSEA calculates that number based on compounding and inflation; the teachers’ proposal is three years  with 3 per cent plus cost of living increase in each year).

• per pupil funding has increased 38 per cent since 2001, ministry has provided $225 million over three years to hire 500 teachers and 400 new special education assistants for 2012-2013 school year.

• “…The employers’ moves are not being reciprocated by the union.” (Education Minister Peter Fassbender).

• Not supervising outside of class time “could threaten the safety of students” (Peter Cameron, BCPSEA negotiator).

The government estimates the cost of reinstating smaller class sizes and restoring staffing to 2002 levels as high as $1 billion.

There have been three provincewide teacher walkouts in the last 10 years.

 

 

 

 

 

Impact:

No supervision at recess