After the BCTF ratification vote BC’s Education minister is hoping the next academic year will be free of any job action.
George Abbott also isn’t reading anything into the fact 48% of teachers didn’t vote at all.
“I am first off just very pleased that they were able to secure over 75-percent ratification I think that is terrific the modest turn out I think again is not to much different than the last few voted by the BCTF and probably raises questions which are better addressed by the leadership of the Teachers Federation rather than myself.”
Abbott says he hopes to use the next year to try and build a new relationship with the teachers union.
“But I am not pleased in terms of the state of our relationship I think what i would like to see more than anything else in the year ahead ..we need to take that time to build a better and more constructive relationship between ourselves and the BC Teachers Federation it is always the students that suffer when we don’t have a good constructive relationship.”
Abbott is cautioning the teachers union to not bank on an NDP win the next election.
He says the BCTF would be better served building bridges with both sides.
“One shouldn’t assume that we are not going to enjoy another round of BC Liberal government and I think the BC Teachers Federation should try to build a strong relationship with both the New Democratic party and with the BC Liberal party and its leadership they will be selling themselves short if they don’t do that.”
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