Teachers, govt further apart than ever, says Fassbender

NEWS/SCHOOLS — The B.C. Teachers Federation has “filled in their blanks and clarified their positions” and a contract settlement is now further away than ever, says Education Minister Peter Fassbender.

The minister said today (Thursday) the BCTF presented its full set of demands on Wednesday. “And instead of moving us closer, their latest demands moved them further away from the affordability zone for public sector settlements.

“Their wage and benefit demands alone are more than twice what other unions have settled for. On top of that, they are pushing for hundreds of millions more each year in other contract demands.

“I’m disappointed. We are now further away from an agreement than we were a week ago. We want to give teachers a raise but the BCTF leadership is making that virtually impossible.”

Fassbender said the current offer from the B.C. Public School Employers Association is already at “the very limit” of what government can afford.

“We cannot split the difference.”

He emphasized the BCPSEA isn’t walking away from the table, and the government doesn’t want to legislate a contract.

“We appreciate that brings with it the possibility that this strike could go on for quite a while. How long it will last is entirely up to the BCTF – but any hope of timely resolution will require the BCTF executive to be realistic.”

Teachers began a full-scale walkout Tuesday.