[BC省新聞] B.C. schools could reopen by Monday schools, morning

tiffiant

B.C. schools could reopen by Monday after 'historic' deal reached with teachers

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/business/schools+could+reopen+Monday+after+historic+deal+reached+with/10207687/story.html#ixzz3DaJvxFAc
Classrooms could be open Monday in B.C. after a tentative deal was reached early Tuesday morning that could end the long-running and bitter teachers’ strike.
The province’s 41,000 teachers will vote Thursday on the deal that would see them get a wage increase of 7.25 per cent over six years. The tentative deal also includes a $105-million payment to address grievances and $400 million to hire new teachers over the course of six years, the longest contract ever between teachers and their employer.
The BCTF executive is recommending that its members accept the tentative deal, which was reached at about 4 a.m. Tuesday after a marathon bargaining session that lasted all weekend, including several late nights. Master mediator Vince Ready navigated a course between the BCTF negotiating team, led by president Jim Iker, and the B.C. Public School Employers’ Association’s team, led by Peter Cameron.
Premier Christy Clark would not say exactly how much the deal will cost, but said the government will pay for it without raising taxes, going into deficit, taking on more debt or cutting services.
“It is within our fiscal plan,” Clark said, adding that the government’s appeal of a 2014 B.C. Supreme Court decision against the government will go forward.
Iker said the tentative deal protects teachers’ constitutional rights and allows the court case to proceed.
“Thanks to the courageous stand teachers took on the picket lines and the strong support of parents and other unions, B.C. teachers were able to get new money invested in schools and reach a mutually agreed-to process to deal with any future court decision on class size, class composition, and staffing levels,” Iker said.
Twice, the B.C. Supreme Court has ruled that the government of the day violated teachers’ constitutional rights when it stripped the teachers’ contract of provisions that placed limits on class sizes, class composition and specialist teacher ratios. Justice Susan Griffin restored the 2002 clauses, opening the way for grievances spanning the ensuing 12 years. Griffin’s decision has been stayed, pending the appeal. The B.C. Court of Appeal is scheduled to hear the case in October.
The tentative deal with teachers would take the grievances off the table, permanently, replacing them with a $105-million fund that the teachers’ union can pay out to teachers as it sees fit. It is believed the union will divide the money as a one-time payment to teachers.
“The executive committee will decide the fairest way to share this money among members,” the BCTF said in an email to members.
Clark called the deal to settle grievances a “major step forward on both sides” and that the grievances represented a “major financial liability,” saying it was worth it to settle for a smaller amount.
The contentious E80 clause, which outlined the government’s proposal for class size and class composition and which the teachers said could nullify a win in court, was taken off the table by the government. But in its place is a clause that would allow the government or the teachers to reopen the agreement after the court case is settled. It is believed that this clause includes a process for arbitration if negotiation doesn’t work.

Going forward, the $400 million to hire additional teachers will also address class size, class composition and specialist teacher ratios.
“Every dollar in this annual fund will be used to hire BCTF bargaining unit members. We estimate that about 850 additional teaching positions will be created provincewide each year for the life of this agreement,” the BCTF said in the email to members.
The deal also includes some improved benefits for teachers.
“Preparation time for elementary teachers increases to 100 minutes per week effective immediately, with an additional 10 minutes in the last year of the agreement. In addition, there are improved dental and extended health benefits,” the union’s email to member says.
Administrators are anticipating the earliest most schools could open is Monday, while Iker said schools will open some time next week.

tiffiant

Education Minister Peter Fassbender said the provincial government will be funding the settlement and not leaving it to school boards to find the money in their existing budgets.

Fassbender also said talks are underway with school districts for plans to make up the time lost due to the strike. Students will have lost 27 days of school, between two school years, if schools reopen on Monday. Fassbender said a plan would be announced as soon as the vote is finalized and that all students’ years would be “kept whole,” especially those in Grade 11 and 12.

The government offered to pay parents of children age 12 and under $40 a day during the dispute. If all of the eligible children signed up for the $40 and schools reopen Monday, the government will pay out $168 million for that scheme.

Both sides gained and lost in their positions at the bargaining table, said University of British Columbia education professor E. Wayne Ross.

“I think [teachers] gave up more than the government gave up to get the deal,” he said. “But the government had many more cards to play, and they had a lot more time to hold out than the teachers did.

“It looks like [the BCTF] held on to their charter rights in the court case and that was a big issue. On the main issue, they held out, and got what they wanted. But I think in the end, like in most of these cases, the government gets more of what it wants.”

Patti Bacchus, chair of the Vancouver school board, said if the contract is ratified the board will attempt to steamroll into the school year as quickly as possible. Principals have already been preparing behind the scenes, she said.

“We’re fairly well prepared, but I know teachers have let me know that they haven’t been able to do things in their classrooms to prepare and really left things where they dropped them in June,” she said in an interview. “It’s going to be bumpy for sure and people are going to have to be a little bit patient, but I know there’s a great desire to get back as soon as we possibly can.”

Bacchus said she’s thrilled the deal was reached at the bargaining table, noting the board was starting to get pessimistic that could ever happen.

“I hope this will help deal with some of the damaged morale as we go forward. Given that it is a negotiated deal, that’s really the best way if it can happen.”

Teacher Ig Cheung said he’s feeling a sense of relief, but still intends to read the details of the agreement closely before deciding how to vote.

“I’m just hoping we haven’t given up too much,” said Cheung, who’s been teaching nearly two decades in Surrey.

He said with morale waning on the picket lines, there is more uncertainty even when school starts because not all his colleagues will immediately put their whole hearts back into it.

“This is going to be a very different year,” he said. “Some teachers, after all this, may just go and teach. They (will) forego extracurriculars like running clubs, coaching teams.”