With a new proposal rejected almost as soon as proposed, BC teachers and the provincial government seem no closer to settling collective bargaining and bringing an end to job action.
On Tuesday, January 17, BC Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) announced it would be bringing a reduce package to the negotiating table in an effort to jumpstart bargaining. Almost immediately George Abbott, BC education minister, responded by stating the government would reject the proposal because it still does not meet its “net zero” mandate, meaning a collective agreement that does not raise the overall cost.
The new proposal asks for a three per cent salary increase based on the cost of living each year for the next three years, along with a three per cent increase to address market adjustments in the last two years of the agreement. BCTF reports this would cost a total of $300 million for the government, a number substantially lower than those reported by BC Public Service Employees’ Association (BCPSEA).
BCPSEA disputes the BCTF’s numbers, or at least its method of calculating the costs, and estimates the new proposal amounts to $1.3 billion over three years. BCPSEA reports that BCTF is only adding the increased funding from year to year, rather than counting the total cost of the increases.
A new collective agreement between teachers, BCPSEA and the provincial government has been in the works since the beginning of the school year. Since then teachers have been in phase one of job action, which entails a refusal to perform administrative duties such as noon-hour supervision and writing report cards.
“It’s perfectly reasonable that BC teachers want to keep up with inflation and move a little way toward catching up with teachers in other provinces,” said Susan Lambert, BCTF president, in a press release. “BC’s economy is stronger than most, yet other provincial governments have set their priorities to invest in classrooms, teachers, and kids, not to cut education budgets.”
A breakdown of the new package reports that items such as reduced paid discretionary leave and reduced preparation time result in significant cuts in teachers’ demands. The province, however, is maintaining its policy of no increased spending in collective agreements.
Abbott said, in a conference call to reporters, the proposal shows no real progress in the teachers’ willingness to work with the government. He added that the government will not stray from its net zero policy. When asked if the government would step in to legislate the end to job action, Abbott said that decision has not been made yet but he has concerns over the action’s effects on education and the general lack of progress in bargaining.
“Even my boundless optimism has been greatly tempered by this protracted dispute at the collective bargaining table,” said Abbott. “Nothing that I’ve seen today makes me more optimistic about the possibility for a successful conclusion.”
Cathy Fisher, Powell River and District Teachers’ Association president, said the union and School District 47 have been meeting and have had “some good discussions.” Provincially, however, Fisher said the relevant parties are in the same room, but that’s about it in terms of productivity. Beyond zero mandate Fisher said the government is trying to take away basic employee rights, such as seniority in relation to layoffs and recall.
“What we’re asking for is not a pay raise. We’re asking for a cost-of-living adjustment,” said Fisher. “It wouldn’t even get us on par but it would be a small step toward that. We’ve got the highest cost of living in the country and our teachers are being paid significantly less than their colleagues in other parts of the country.”
Increased job action is not on the near horizon, said Fisher, and would require a provincial vote from all members. Provincial negotiators continue to work toward an agreement, with talks having resumed on Tuesday, January 24.
