B.C. Teachers' Federation recommends that members approve tentative deal

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      B.C. Teachers’ Federation president Jim Iker says the union’s executive is recommending that its members vote in favour of a tentative agreement reached early this morning.

      At a press conference today (September 16), Iker said the deal includes several hundred new teaching positions each year as a result of an annual education fund, a mutually agreed-upon process to address any future court decision, and improvements in salary and extended health benefits.

      "There are meaningful achievements in this deal for teachers and students," he stated.

      Iker said union members will be getting full details of the agreement today and tomorrow. Teachers will vote on the deal this Thursday.

      The BCTF president began his comments by thanking teachers directly.

      "You've worked hard, you've persisted, and you've been courageous," he said.

      "And I know the last few months have been tough, but it was our collective effort that made today possible. You stood up for what you believed in, and stood strong for your rights, and for a better public education system. Be proud that your efforts made a real difference."

      The union and the B.C. Public School Employers’ Association reached the tentative agreement at about 4 a.m. this morning.

      In her comments to media this afternoon, B.C. premier Christy Clark called the six-year deal "historic".

      Iker noted that the province and the teachers’ union struck a five-year deal in 2006.

      “It’s always been our hope…to begin developing a positive relationship with government,” he said.

      “I’m hoping that we can sit down and start working toward that relationship and start addressing the continued needs of our students and our schools.”

      If B.C. teachers vote to ratify the agreement, schools are expected to open sometime next week.

      Comments

      12 Comments

      Union Forever

      Sep 16, 2014 at 6:28pm

      NO! Jim is a sellout!

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      Jean-Michel Oblette

      Sep 16, 2014 at 6:37pm

      "Buy buy" Christy!

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      Not a Silver Guard

      Sep 16, 2014 at 8:46pm

      Will the overqualified young teachers be given a chance this time, or are their needs so far from the identities' of the union leadership that they're best seen as something to throw under the tires when trying to get traction driving out of a mud pit

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      Natty

      Sep 16, 2014 at 9:55pm

      Good. Face off between government and bctf is over, so Iker can go cut off his playoff mullet and 'stache.

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      Van Pressburg

      Sep 17, 2014 at 12:17am

      BC Teachers are on strike.
      The salary of teachers in BC after a decade of experience is over $80,000.
      They earn more money than teachers in Western Europe and in the USA. The average salary of Canadian teachers is the highest in the world.
      Are Canadian students among the top students of the world? Not anymore!
      I analyzed many teachers from China, India, Middle East, Eastern Europe and other countries.

      In the last 18 International Mathematical Olympiads (years 2001-2014), Chinese students won 14 times:

      YEAR WINNER
      1997 China
      1998 Russia
      1999 China
      2000 China
      2001 China
      2002 China
      2003 Bulgaria
      2004 China
      2005 China
      2006 China
      2007 Russia
      2008 China
      2009 China
      2010 China
      2011 China
      2012 South Korea
      2013 China
      2014 China

      I have met many amazing teachers from Asia, Eastern Europe who are better than any Canadian teachers I have ever met.
      Do you know how much money they earn? Many of the most talented teachers on the planet earn 5 times or even 10 times less than Canadian teachers.
      Teachers in some countries earn less than hot dog sellers; in Canada, teachers earn several times more than hot dog sellers.

      The graph in the article shows the negative influence of teacher unions on public education.
      The analysis of TIMSS data shows that weak unions, school-based control over hiring and salaries, centralized exams and a healthy private school sector lead to higher student achievement.

      The rating shows that countries with much lower teachers’ salaries (teachers earn 5 times less in some of them) are ahead of Canada in education.
      http://educationnext.org/whystudentsinsomecountriesdobetter/

      The best paid teachers in the world (Canadian) don’t want to be compared to the most talented teachers on the planet.
      All right then - back to Canada.
      Where does the money for Canadian teachers’ salaries come from? The money comes from our taxes.

      Mr. Wang moved to Canada more than a decade ago.
      He won several competitions in China. He is extremely talented. His IQ is 159. In Canada, he repairs computers.
      He must compete with companies that get cheaper computer parts from China.
      Canadian teachers are protected from foreign competition by regulations and the BCTF, but Mr. Wang is not protected. He earns $25,000/year.
      He must pay huge taxes in many ways- gas in Canada is 50% more expensive than in the USA, cars are more expensive, clothes are 40% more expensive, food is more ex

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      Van Pressburg

      Sep 17, 2014 at 12:19am

      Where does the money for Canadian teachers’ salaries come from? The money comes from our taxes.
      Mr. Wang moved to Canada more than a decade ago.
      He won several competitions in China. He is extremely talented. His IQ is 159. In Canada, he repairs computers.
      He must compete with companies that get cheaper computer parts from China.
      Canadian teachers are protected from foreign competition by regulations and the BCTF, but Mr. Wang is not protected. He earns $25,000/year.
      He must pay huge taxes in many ways- gas in Canada is 50% more expensive than in the USA, cars are more expensive, clothes are 40% more expensive, food is more expensive than in the USA, and all of this money is going to the government. He pays your salary.
      He is a genius and he deserves to have a higher salary than Canadian teachers, not 3 times less. HE WANTS A FAIR SHARE.

      Peter is from Eastern Europe.
      He won a competition in Physics. His IQ is 162.
      In Eastern Europe he was a scientist. He finished his PhD in Canada, but he cannot find a job in his field.
      And it’s not only him. Only 4% of people with PhDs get hired by the private sector in Canada compared to 42% getting hired in the USA.
      Private companies are moving to China, India and Eastern Europe.
      PhD jobs are only available in the public sector in Canada and one needs connections to get a job there.
      Read Mahmood Iqbal’s book: “No PhDs Please: This is Canada”

      Peter with a Canadian PhD is driving a taxi.
      A genius pays for your salary.
      He wants a fair share.

      Mr.Pirvani is from the Middle East. He is one of the most talented electronic engineers I have ever met. He sells electronics in Canada and his salary is $28,000.
      He has worked in Canada for 12 companies as a volunteer or for a very small salary. 10 out of 12 of these companies moved to China, USA, India or Eastern Europe.
      The company he has worked the longest time move to USA.
      Teachers with $80,000+ salaries are asking geniuses with $30,000 salaries for more money.

      IT IS OUTRAGEOUS!!!

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      OMG

      Sep 17, 2014 at 7:18am

      Yes, if they are smart they'll vote for this deal, which is a very good one for the teachers. They are getting more than other unions and over a longer period of time, they have more control over class composition and the E80 wording was dropped. They'll also get their signing bonus, by way of a backdoor grievance fund. So in reality the big losers are the children, as usual. Even though he has a mullet, Iker did a good job for the teachers.

      Michael Smyth made an interesting comment about the strike. He figures that the Chinese Consulate forced the government to make a deal because the strike was interrupting the studies of their international students. This isn't hard to believe since this province sold out to China decades ago.

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      Johnny Rotten

      Sep 17, 2014 at 8:37am

      Van Pressburg:

      Christy Clark has an IQ of 89. She earns three hundred grand a year.

      This is also outrageous.

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      RUK

      Sep 17, 2014 at 9:31am

      Whenever anyone gets outraged by the disparity between wages in the private and public sector, almost invariably they scream that the public sector is too high.

      Why? Why aren't they screaming that the private sector is too low?

      Can you live on $30,000 in Vancouver without having two roommates?

      Now I am not a fan of the way the BCTF handled this dispute, I think their entire thinking was geared around having an NDP government that had pre-promised them a certain settlement - that explains why "nice guy" Iker was acclaimed. When Dix stammered and nerded his way into a defeat, the BCTF seems to have been completely pithed.

      That said, so what? Unions are bad now? Without unions, you risk losing every worker right and many of the social freedoms you take for granted, like due process and free speech in the workplace. All of that stuff - transparency, merit based hiring, accomodation for disabilities - is actually great stuff. Thank you, collective bargaining.

      Your taxes do pay for it, Van Pressburg. Ever ask yourself what you get for it?

      How would you like to live in Pakistan, a country where 1% of people pay income tax? Think there is a level playing field there, think that that country attracts top talent?

      No. Obviously not. The lessons here are tactical, not revolutionary.

      But I would like to see the BCTF actually innovate on something. Sounds like they are getting $100M or something to settled the broken contract grievance.

      Instead of spending that cash on signing bonuses, they should partner with goverment to spend it on early retirements.

      That would clear out some of the veterans who feel tired, who are the top wage scale teachers.

      That would then make room for the new teaching graduates.

      It would show that the union cares about keeping the profession healthy and it would earn the goodwill of the next generation of professionals, and it would probably save the government a ton of salary.

      Win-win-win.

      That's what it has to be.

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