what about the precondition "E.81," which was submitted by the B.C. Public School Employers' Association.

It says in part: "Within 60 days of the ultimate judicial decision, either party may give written notice to the other of termination of the collective agreement. If notice is given, the collective agreement terminates at the end of that school year, unless the ultimate judicial decision occurs after the end of February, in which case the termination takes place at the end of the following school year."

This elephant in the room is LARGE.

Government needs to get a grip on accountability and respect for the law.

Is working with the Mediator more of a reality or is the meeting with Minister of Education just a PR stunt.

Our kids deserve better! Class size and learning conditions matter so much to every classroom. And parents and trustees know that.

You're right, the issues are complex. It is more than just about the money. The government has ignored the Charter of Rights and they have been sanctioned twice by the courts, and many more times by the United Nations for disregarding workers' rights. So Teresa, I hope you are telling them to respect the courts' decision, respect the UN, respect their teachers and bargain fairly. Slipping clause E.81 in at the last minute in June does not show respect. So before telling teachers to get within the "zone of affordability" tell your government to show respect for the laws of Canada and BC. Tell them to show respect for the students of BC, the teachers of BC, the parents of BC and to actually bargain fairly. BCTF is ready to go with a mediator, Vince Ready. Why isn't the government willing to sit down fairly?

The author states "The two parties are approximately a percentage point apart on salary" but "the proposed increase to benefits, the workload fund and the $5000 signing bonus request makes the full package well outside the affordability range". Then she has the gall to state "This is not just about money". Well, which is it????? The issues that make a potential contract "well outside the affordability range" are all issues that are being pushed by the teachers union. So it would seem that - YES, IT IS JUST ABOUT MONEY. Taxpayers aren't stupid. We can see what's going on here. That's why the teachers don't have the support of the public. Especially when the average teacher earns $70,000 per year with excellent benefits and three months a year off (according to the teachers union officials themselves). Teacher's would do themselves a favor if they tried talking to parents who earn well less than they do while working two jobs and trying to raise a family. It's called reality.

You only get to keep a little over half of it anyway. Good thing there's a media blackout. If people knew what BCTF wants in the contract, they'd freak. This privileged elite already works half as much and gets paid twice as much as the average BC taxpayer. What's another $500 Million. Never mind other uses to which it might be put, for example: homelessness or child poverty or enforcing environmental regulations. The needs of teachers must come first.
The NDP legislated the terms dealing with class size and composition as a parting gift on their way out the door. Kind of in appreciation for all the support during the disastrous campaign. Even the NDP, had they won, would have had trouble justifying diverting so much of the provincial budget into the pockets of teachers and would have been forced to A: borrow (i.e.deficit financing, or putting the schools on the credit card); or B: raising taxes to pay for it. Evil corporations beware. You rich SOBs too. Time you paid your fair share to meet the demands of the pampered darlings of the labour movement.
Aand can we please drop the lie that this has anything at all to do with student achievement. this is strictly working conditions and benefits, like all contract hegotiations.
The studies the BCTF never mentions have shown that the most expensive policy is to reduce class size (i.e. lessen the workload). In BC it costs $200 Million to reduce class sizes by one student and that has no effect on outcomes. The single greatest factor responsible for student success is teacher competence.
The BCTF has spent 25 years and untold effort to make sure no teacher is subjected to meaningful performance review or discipline. They are not required to have studied the subjects which they teach. Combine this with their historical intransigence in labour relations and willingness to strike in contempt of an order for the Supreme Court (without the urging of the government) and you have a recipe for mediocrity.
They had better grab all they can now. In a few short years anyone who wants to will be able to take instruction on-line from the best teachers in the world, and for a very reasonable fee. Bricks-and-mortat schools to which one must commute and the gold-bricking, feather-bedding slackers inside them are obsolete and far too costly, considering the unimpressive results.

Allow the teachers to stay on strike, forever.

Unrealistic demands, using the children as pawns. Everyone has to be fiscally responsible. You want what's best for kids, take the same raise most of the taxpayers have had over the last few years, (0) or less and go back to work. You want a raise, get rid of cable, that will get you 125 a month more. Scale back you're cell plan, drive 10 year or older cars, don't see many of those in the local high school teachers lot. Not happy with that? Drive a logging or mine truck. That's what the average taxpayer with 2 kids has to do every day.