Both sides of teachers’ dispute get an ‘F’

WEDNESDAY MORNING EDITORIAL — It’s easy to say a pox on both their houses but let’s say it anyway — a pox on the teachers and the government.

The B.C. Teachers Federation is taking it up a notch, beginning rotating strikes next week that will hit every district in the province. Kamloops-Thompson gets its turn on Wednesday. The BCTF announced its move yesterday, reasoning that the provincial government and the B.C. Public School Employers Association haven’t offered anything substantive on class sizes or composition, or other learning conditions.

And, says the BCTF, teachers have been subjected to threats around wage rollbacks and lockouts.

They’re sounding quite hurt about it. Yet only last week the government offered to withdraw its demand for a 10-year contract and replace it with six, and pay a signing bonus. It was the first sign of concessions.

And concessions are half of what bargaining a contract is about. Whether it’s agreeing to new contract language on disputed items, or softening bargaining positions, no contract ever gets signed without both sides giving a little.

On the other hand, the government and BCPSEA might have done better than to poke the teachers with a stick after offering their olive branch. On yet another hand, the teachers, instead of indignation and condemnation, might have tried coming back with a counter, or a peace offering of their own.

Instead, schools will be closed, kids will lose valuable teaching time and parents will be inconvenienced. The blame game isn’t convincing — both sides are failing miserably.