BCTF poised for labour dispute
The Daily News (Prince Rupert)
Tue 30 Aug 2005
Page: 3

Section: Local
Byline: James Vassallo
Source: The Daily News

Teachers have not ruled out walking off the job during
the upcoming school year should negotiations over their current contract
continue to falter.

"The (Labour Relations Board - LRB) hasn't ruled specifically on what action
we can take," said Marty Bowles, Prince Rupert District Teachers' Union
president. "We believe (a strike) is possible, but strike action -- walking out
-- would be a last resort."

Teachers are scheduled to vote on job action beginning September 20 in the
hopes of putting pressure on their employer, the B.C. Public Sector Employees
Association (PSEA), to "negotiate meaningfully."

Bowles could not say what activity would take place, only that it would be a
tiered response. During the BCTF's dispute with the government four years ago,
teachers began their "Phase I" approach in November 2001, refusing to provide
report cards, attend parent or staff meetings, participate in committees, do
inventories or order textbooks, answer school phones, supervise detentions or
take part in fundraising activities among other things. A "Phase II" approach
began on January 7, 2002 where teacher's withdrew all help with extra curricular
activities (sports teams, etc.), and threatened "partial, rotating or full"
withdrawal of services. On January 27, 2002, Bills 27 and 28 were passed,
imposing a three-year contract on teachers.

Since the end of that contract in June 2004, teachers have been without an
agreement and have not met with their employer since June 23 of this year.

"They rejected everything (when we last met)," he said. "PSEA says (our
proposal) is against their zero (increase) mandate."

Teachers are looking to shrink the amount of time it takes for a starting
teacher to make maximum wages, giving new teachers a break and encouraging them
to stay in the profession.

"Starting teachers have a tough go of it," he said. "We're an aging
profession ... we have to find a way for our younger teachers to get involved
with the profession and continue on."

Along with helping younger teachers, the main issue continues to be class
size and class composition.

"We need to protect the learning conditions of the students," said Bowles.
"That's what this is all about."

On September 10 the PRDTU will hold a meeting to update local membership on
how teacher's will deal with the contract dispute.

Two days later, the provincial legislature will convene, an unexpected early
call back, for the likely purpose of legislating something against teachers, he
said.

Teacher's have tried to speak with Premier Gordon Campbell in the hopes of
resolving the issue, however the Premier is now refusing to meet.

"His reasoning is that because of the pending lawsuit the BCTF has against
him (over remarks during the provincial election) it would be better if we
didn't meet," said Bowles.

And while teacher's assume that the NDP are supportive of free collective
bargaining and will likely oppose any legislated solution, the opposition can
merely point out problems with the actions of government, he said.

Tomorrow the BCTF will have their first meeting with senior government
officials in some time as teachers meet with Education Minister Shirley Bond.
However, the meeting comes on the heels of a report from the CD Howe Institute that states smaller class sizes don't
improve student achievement, the opposite of what has been teacher's battle cry
for the last four years.

The conservative think tank calls on provincial governments to redirect
funding aimed at reducing class size, saying the money would be better spent
elsewhere, something that has already drawn the ire of the new provincial
opposition party.

"Under this government we have seen deep cuts in resources in the classroom,
which means larger classes and less individual attention for students," said
John Horgan, NDP education critic. "Following the Institute's advice will make
the problem worse, not better."

"A single study, coming out of a conservative think tank, will not turn the
tide on this issue."

Edition: Final
Story Type: Business
Length:
646 words