A collective sigh of relief was felt around the province early Monday morning when a tentative deal between the provincial government and the B.C. Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) was announced, hopefully bringing to an end this bitter dispute and seeing the return to class for thousands of students.
We say hopefully because at the time Coast Reporter went to press Thursday morning, B.C. teachers were voting to ratify the new deal, reported to be a six-year agreement between the BCTF and government. The BCTF executive is urging its members to vote in favour of the deal, which would mean classes could resume early next week.
In an email leaked to media from the BCTF, its executive is supporting ratification because concession demands are now off the table, government has withdrawn article E80, which was an attempt to bargain around the Supreme Court decisions, the proposed deal provides $400 million for more teaching jobs, provides a salary increase for teachers of 7.25 per cent over six years, an additional $105 million to cover retroactive grievances, and an increase in prep time to 100 minutes per week.
Both the BCTF and the provincial government were collectively patting themselves on the back Tuesday with each side claiming victory. Both seem somewhat apologetic for sending our education system into turmoil for months and putting so much unnecessary stress on parents and students.
There has been a lot of hostility between both parties, which has gone on for years, but we will agree with Premier Christy Clark who said on Tuesday that the deal reached is “historic.” It really is. A six-year deal provides some stability in our education system and provides a chance for both sides to cool off and look towards what we all can only hope is a brighter future for education in this province. Are there still “issues” between the two sides? You bet. There is still a Supreme Court case that the province intends to appeal, and that outcome later in the year will most certainly bring back the bitter feelings between both parties. But for now, let’s all take a step back and be thankful that schools will be open next week.
Teachers will get to do what they love — teach — and our children will get to learn from them. And that’s a very good thing.
