British Columbia Teachers Federation Bullying Plight
As an educator working in British Columbia I can’t but help comment on the ongoing conflict between the BCTF and the Government. I’m often in schools enabling administrators and teachers to consider a restorative approach to conflict, and this conflict which is rooted in decisions made almost ten years ago is far from being dealt with in a restorative way.
In fact the BC Liberal Government have repeatedly stolen the power of their teachers, and Bill 22 is the hate mail that the bullies have delivered to the BCTF.
The Government has offered mediation with stipulations. What mediator with any integrity in the discipline of mediation would agree to mediate under these conditions? That could be not impartial. The aim of mediation is to try to come to an agreement that is a win win situation. For that to happen people must at least feel the playing ground is as even as possible. One should walk away from mediation without resentment and feeling that you have been listened too. However the Government imposing stipulations before the process has begun is a recipe for both disaster and likely another ten years of dis-ease.
Teachers feel betrayed. It’s as if their basic charter has been stripped away. Soon they will not be able to strike without being fined $475 a day. And woe betide if you are a union officer, the fine will increase to $2500. The definition of striking is more than refusing to work, it is any collective action authorized by the union. For example if the BCTF ruled that teachers should wear wristbands to school in protest- that could be considered a strike. If teachers continue job action that could also be considered a strike. And then there is the question who is considered a union officer, that is not clear, and naturally teachers are scared. When Bill 22 is in place approximately 41,000 teachers could be at risk if they participate in any collective action. This could culminate with teachers being subpoenaed to court and required to pay a fine.
The public may say: “Fair enough our school kids need their education, they are the ones losing out in this conflict.” Is the public aware that BC is one of the few provinces that gives money into private and independent schools? While at the same time money in public education is being clawed back.
Despite the fact that BC is one of the most expensive provinces to live in; and has some of the lowest wages for teachers in Canada. Many teachers will say: “A pay rise would be great – but that is not the issue we are in conflict about.” Teachers want control of their professional development, fair posting and filling process and a strong public education. They have the good sense to say no to class sizes of thirty or more.
The government has admitted to making $11 million a day when teachers are on strike. Ironically the Government has announced that they will invest the money back into special education. Doesn’t the Government realize that by insisting on classes be as big as thirty they will be part of the cause of requiring more students to go into special education?
It’s not practical for a teacher to safely teach students in such large classes, as so much will go unnoticed. Classes so large will be a breeding ground for bullying, drop outs and delinquency. Many students do not feel safe enough to learn in large groups. Many will go unnoticed and will fail the system.
Sadly this grievance will continue, and more bullying will occur. If the Government could put the needs of the student first, rather than act like they are in a battle with the BCTF, there could be the possibility of a shift in the conflict. Perhaps if the BCTF paid out for a mediator to represent them, rather than representing themselves when going into negotiation there could be the potential of a different outcome. Understandably senior union officials are angry, but anger is not the best ingredient when trying to resolve a long standing conflict. This could have been an opportunity for the Government and the BCTF to do something different. Sadly the conflict will haunt the Government, BCTF, the teachers, and the students. People like me who offer extra curricular service will feel the impact of this down the road, when schools will be crying out for help.
A positive I see occurring from this unfortunate situation is that it is raising public discourse on public education from griping about how much time off teachers get to how decades of cutbacks in the public system have effected class size and composition.
As educators, we encourage children to listen to each other and to ‘play fairly’. It is unfortunate that the government doesn’t seem to model such behavior when in negotiations with the BCTF. I also agree with Dr. Mason-John, that an appointed mediator by BCTF might be beneficial.
I don’t know why the myth of “teachers time off” comes from. I have been a teacher for 21 years and it would always take me 3 weeks after the end of June when I am no longer exhausted. Then, 2 or 3 three weeks before school begins, I am preparing for the September school opening.
So that leaves me about 3 weeks holiday; not unreasonable for someone who has worked for one company for 21 years.
The week-ends would see me tidying my class, organizing for the next week of teaching and doing lesson plans.
The evenings would see me marking, planning, and organizing as well. So, compared to anyone’s job, how much work do you do in the evenings and on the weekend of your job, and not get paid? Teachers do this as they need to prepare; lesson plans don’t come with the daily newspaper. Whoever thinks teachers work 9-3 lives in la la land.
Great letter. I agree with everything you have presented here. There are a couple of typos you may want to fix. Should read $475 a day fine for teachers, and 41,000 teachers could be at risk.
So on the topic of bullying, would it be fair to say the teachers themselves are now bullies? They are taking away things from the students because they can. When someone in a position of power uses that power to hurt someone else, is that not bullying?
On the “It’s not about the money” comment, really? Take the money off the table in exchange for other things then. Take the money already offered to reduce class size (BCTF does not want you to know it has been offered). You talk about barganing in good faith, do you know the BCTF refuses to talk about non-money issues until they get the money first, every other union starts with non-monitary items to build the relationship, not the BCTF.
As with any fight, it’s not all one side, only a fool would think it is.
The BCTF, because of the legislation passed in 2002 (that the courts declared illegal, by the way) is prohibited from bargaining class size and composition. Bargaining salary and benefits us all they really can bargain. It may also interest you to know that Bill 22, currently being debated in the legislature, first repeals and then reinstates that illegal language, forbidding any teachers’ collective agreement from “(d) restricting or regulating a board’s power to establish class size and class composition,” or from “(e) establishing or imposing class size limits, requirements respecting average class sizes, or methods for determining class size limits or average class sizes.”
I should also note that all of these things you are incensed about the teachers electing to no longer provide are not part of their job. They are the extra things teachers do because they are passionate about children. When they’re forbidden any other legal method of protesting what the government is doing to education, however, what else can we expect? Teachers are taking their unpaid volunteer hours elsewhere. As an analogy, when the lunchtime monitors (older students) in the school decide they no longer want to volunteer their time to supervise the younger students, it’s not bullying. When the teachers decide they no longer want to use their volunteer time at school, it’s not bullying. It’s a tragic choice, for teachers and students both … but it’s not bullying.
Interesting interpretation of my piece. How did you come to the conclusion I quote; ‘I should also note that all of these things you are incensed about the teachers electing to no longer provide are not part of their job.’ Incensed is not how I would describe my thoughts towards teachers. It is one of compassion. Thank you for your comments as it highlights how we see things from different points of views. I wish you well in this challenging time ahead. Be well.
“The government has admitted to making $11 million a day when teachers are on strike. Ironically the Government has announced that they will invest the money back into special education. Doesn’t the Government realize that by insisting on classes be as big as thirty they will be part of the cause of requiring more students to go into special education?”
Amen! Children fall between the cracks as ratios of teacher-student/ teacher-special needs students raise. If the ratios were even what they were in the late 90s, teachers were able to catch these children before they fell.
What’s really annoying? people who bash teachers by pretending to speak “authoritatively” on the topic. I say, if one doesn’t know, at least most of, the facts, then don’t engage in a discussion. It makes one look ignorant.