Mediator Vince Ready is making himself available to help resolve the ongoing contract dispute between BC’s 41,000 public school teachers and the provincial government.
With less than two weeks before public schools are scheduled to reopen, face to face bargaining resumed last week in an attempt to resolve the three-month teachers’ strike.
The BC Public School Employers’ Association (BCPSEA) and the BC Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) released a joint statement on bargaining Thursday, August 14.
Over the summer, discussions continued between BCTF president Jim Iker and BCPSEA chief negotiator Peter Cameron, leading up to a session of face-to-face bargaining Friday, August 8.
Ready has agreed to monitor the situation, resume exploratory talks and commence full mediation when he believes it will be productive.
BC teachers walked off the job last June and ended the school year two weeks early, calling for higher wages and improved class sizes and composition. The provincial government has said teacher wage increases must be inline with other public sector deals to reach a settlement.
Both sides of the dispute have agreed to not engage in public discussion pending further talks with Ready.
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