Early job action largely unseen, district says

By MIKE YOUDS

While the first week of teachers’ job action may seem to have had little visible impact on local schools, district administrators are worried about the long-term stress of repeated labour disputes.

Assistant superintendent Karl deBruijn said the BCTF’s Phase 1 action, which started on Wednesday, has so far consisted of a staff withdrawal of supervision outside the classroom and refusal to communicate in writing with principals and administration.

Nine school districts have cancelled recess as a result of a lack of supervision, but Kamloops-Thompson School District wants to avoid that in the interest of students and teachers alike.

“It’s very early stages,” deBruijn said on Friday. “From an outside look, you won’t see much effect on students at this point. What’s worrying, I think, is the effect of this over the long term.”

There has been no effect on extra-curricular activities such as athletics and field trips, although these may be affected if the BCTF steps up its campaign.

Teachers are trying to pressure the provincial government to speed up negotiations after their contract expired last June. The union won’t reveal if or when it will step up its action, but BCTF president Jim Iker has said a continued lack of progress will lead to rotating strikes with 48 hours’ notice. Wages and class sizes are key issues.

Education Minister Peter Fassbender maintains that the union is focused on the job action and has not, that’s why there has been no movement at the bargaining table.

At the same time, the province is appealing a 2011 B.C. Supreme Court ruling in favour of teachers and ordering a restoration of collective bargaining rights that were unilaterally stripped away in 2001. A court injunction is delaying the return of those rights as the appeal runs its course.

As with the last job action taken by the BCTF, the greatest impact is not in immediate effect but in a gradual erosion of relations between administration, staff and the public, deBruijn said. Successive periods of labour action over time is straining those relationships.

As well, the last job action took place in fall. At this time of year, there is a whole different set of considerations at stake, including planning for the coming school year.

“Imagine any other work site where the employees refuse to talk with the employer. I don’t think it’s good for teachers; I don’t think it’s good for anybody.”