The Sunshine Coast Board of Education is requesting to meet with the Ministry of Education to discuss suggestions to the service delivery and employer governance of labour relations and human resources in BC K-12 education.Since the election of the new B.C. Liberal government, Minister of Education PeterFassbender has committed to a new approach to teacher bargaining in support of a long-term agreement. The changes have now been made - the hiring of a lead negotiator to bargain on behalf of employers and government, the appointment of a public administrator to govern the BC Public School Employers' Association (BCPSEA), adjustments in BCPSEA staffing, and a new bargaining team that includes a direct representative from the BC School Trustees Association (BCSTA). Bargaining with teachers resumed last week.Minister Fassbender has also made public commitments to maintain BCPSEA in the long term, but to consider changes to its governance."We feel that very positive changes can be made, and have ideas around government and boards working together constructively through legislated co-operation, stable service delivery to employers, and a system that works effectively and efficiently for all stakeholders including our employees and taxpayers," said board chair Silas White. "Boards are submitting a collection of concerns and questions through our provincial association, as well, and we are confident the government can address them while still defining a clearer role for itself in K-12 labour relations."
-Submitted
