Local teachers are pleased with a recent BC Supreme Court ruling that provides a “glimmer of hope” that they may once again negotiate class size and class composition during provincial bargaining.
The court previously ordered the province to pay $2 million in damages for removing the collective rights of teachers to bargain on class size and composition, and support for special needs students.
But the province has stated it will appeal the ruling.
Minister of Education Peter Fassbender said the appeal focuses more on the needs of students than the needs of the BC Teachers’ Federation.
Fassbender said the court ruling is unaffordable for taxpayers because it may require hiring many more teachers to accommodate smaller class sizes.
But teachers argue the government acted illegally when it took away their rights to bargain important learning conditions for students.
Sylvia Slater, president of the South Okanagan Similkameen Teachers’ Union, was thrilled with the ruling.
“All of these things matter to teachers and impact students.”
She noted that teachers used to be able to negotiate these things until the BC Liberals, under the direction of then Minister of Education Christy Clark, stripped those rights from the collective agreement.
“It still astounds me that this government’s actions have been twice proven in court to be unconstitutional. When a political party has a political agenda rather than one that’s good for society, much harm can come,” Slater said.
She stated that budgets are a concern everywhere, and school boards around the province continue to tell the government that more funding is needed.
Lyonel Doherty
Oliver Chronicle
“The government won’t listen to school boards or teachers who are in the schools and classrooms every day with your children.”
She added it is disconcerting that the government doesn’t recognize the impact of underfunding or listen to elected trustees and professional educators.
Slater said the school district and the union will work together to examine the impact the court ruling will have and the changes that may be required.
“People sometimes forget that a negotiated contract is good for both parties. It’s not just a teacher contract. If negotiated, it belongs to both parties. If imposed, we don’t want it.”
Slater said School District 53, teachers, administrators, CUPE and district staff work hard to provide children with a good education. Therefore, the government needs to step up with real funding and genuine support for children.
School board chair Marieze Tarr said the board neither refutes the finding of the Supreme Court nor does it take any position on the decision to appeal.
“Our board welcomes increased staffing levels and supports for our students, but if this is not funded by the provincial government we cannot sustain many other essential services for our students.”
Tarr said the board and district staff are currently working on the financial implications, program impacts and logistics related to the court decision.
She expressed her hope that the courts and the provincial parties at the negotiating table will sort out the details so that no immediate disruption occurs in the education system.
