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Editorial: Restoring rights

Teachers across the province are celebrating a BC Supreme Court ruling that found a provincial law unconstitutional.

Teachers across the province are celebrating a BC Supreme Court ruling that found a provincial law unconstitutional. The decision found legislation passed by the provincial government in 2002, which ended the right of teachers to bargain class size and class composition, excluded them from any freedom to associate to influence their working conditions.

The law, which was passed when Premier Christy Clark was education minister, triggered a one-day walkout by teachers in January 2002. Teachers have filed thousands of grievances protesting classes that they believe are too large and have too many unsupported children with special needs.

The court gave the provincial government 12 months to make changes. The ruling will likely have far-reaching implications on contract negotiations now underway between the BC Teachers’ Federation and the BC Public School Employers’ Association. The union’s contract expires June 30.

However the negotiations unfold, the decision has restored full and free collective bargaining rights to teachers and the ability to be involved in decisions which greatly affect their working conditions.