Another year, another stalemate.
Education Minister George Abbott announced Thursday that the provincial government will begin drafting legislation to end its dispute with teachers. A year at the collective-bargaining table has done nothing to bridge a decades-long gap or bear a contract that was mutually agreed upon.
“It’s unacceptable that this situation continues,” said Abbott during a media conference call. “The two sides are as far apart today as they were a year ago.”
In fact, Abbott says the government has only been able to successfully negotiate a contract with the B.C. Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) once — in 2006 — in the last 30 years.
Teachers have been taking part in limited job action since September, refusing to issue report cards and supervise some after-school activities.
The government’s insistence on net-zero wage increases in the public sector has been seen as a non-starter in negotiations, but BCTF president Susan Lambert says the union has always been willing to compromise.
There are countless other items that the government has refused to negotiate, she says.
“We’ve asked for a mediation process,” Lambert told media. “If we can’t get that, we’re open to arbitration.”
The union says legislating a new contract on teachers is akin to bullying and will only make the strained relationship between the two sides even worse.
“What’s the rush?” Lambert asked.
If teachers are legislated back to work, Lambert wouldn’t rule out the possibility of potential walkouts or wildcat strikes.
Any action would be up to the union’s members, she says.
Abbott expects the new legislation to be ready by next week.
Local news from metronews.ca/vancouver
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