New school year won’t begin Tuesday

NEWS/ SCHOOLS — Hopes for an end to the B.C. teachers strike in time for the start of school appear to have been dashed, as mediator Vince Ready stepped way from talks between the B.C. Teachers Federation and government negotiators Saturday afternoon.

The Kamloops-Thompson School District had already decided it won’t be able to open schools Tuesday — the scheduled start for the new academic year — even if an agreement had been reached.

Ready said the two sides were still too far apart on wages and class size for him to be able to bring them to a resolution. His involvement had widely been seen as the only chance to find a deal in time for the start of classes Tuesday.

Teachers have been on strike since June 17. Assuming they’re still on strike by Tuesday morning, the provincial government has offered parents $40 a day as a daycare subsidy for students under 13.

Education Minister Peter Fassbender met in Victoria on Thursday with BCTF president Jim Iker and B.C. Public School Employers Association negotiator Peter Cameron to propose three steps towards a settlement, including suspension of the strike-lockout for two weeks once Ready started mediation.

School district 73 superintendent Karl deBruijn voice mailed parents Friday night saying there will be no school Tuesday. He said if the situation changes over the weekend he’ll let them know.

“I know that this situation has been and continues to be very challenging and discouraging for everyone involved,” he said. “Let us hope that the provincial parties will continue to negotiate and reach a settlement so that we can get schools open as soon as possible.”

There was no immediate reaction from the BCTF and BCPSEA about Ready’s withdrawal but Education Minister Peter Fassbender said he was “very disappointed,” blaming the BCTF for the failure to reach a settlement.

“Unfortunately, the BCTF leadership has stubbornly refused every effort to reach a fair deal and they have even refused to give teachers a chance to vote on suspending the pickets while an agreement is mediated,” Fassbender said.

“Negotiating a settlement requires union leaders to stand in front of their members and explain what has been achieved at the bargaining table.

“I worry the BCTF leadership is actually counting on government to legislate an end to this strike so they can avoid having a difficult conversation with their members about what is realistic and achievable.”

He repeated the government’s position that it won’t legislate teachers back to work.

“As hard as it is, we have to stand firm and hope the union leadership comes around to getting serious about negotiating a fair agreement.

“In the meantime, I want to encourage the BCTF leadership to canvass their members about temporarily suspending their pickets so schools can open and teachers can go to work.”

Fassbender said the gulf between the two sides is bigger than the BCTF is making it out to be. The government has offered a six-year contract, a seven-per cent wage increase and $375 million over five years to address classroom needs.