Here we are again - fall is upon us, the PNE has come and gone, it's been raining, summer flowers are past their glory and - wait - kids are NOT back in school. Good grief, what's going on?
Indeed, what is going on? The strike continues and the B.C. government says it will not order teachers back.
Some are suggesting they want to end public schools. The education portfolio has been a "problem" for B.C. governments for more than a decade.
The B.C. Supreme Court and Appeal Court have both ruled against the government and in favour with the B.C. Teachers' Federation, and the government is desperately trying to delay or avoid complying with the courts' decisions.
This legal tangle goes back to 2002. The Campbell government, with Christy Clark as education minister, broke the labour agreement. Both the B.C. Supreme Court and Appeal Court said: "You cannot do that."
The courts' decisions would cause the government to reinstate a number of teaching and support positions to the school system. Rather than agreeing to do what the courts have ordered, the government says it "can't afford it." It would compromise the provincial budget. So, the Liberals push it aside, but can they?
Government has estimated the cost of meeting teachers' demands as "hundreds of millions." Compare that to a recent settlement where B.C. agreed to pay $750 million to California to settle the B.C. Hydro Powerex matter. No extra money for education?
Some think pay scales are the sticking points. Enough has emerged to convince me that pay is not the issue. They are close enough that a good bargaining session would sort that out. Beside, public records show B.C.'s education spending is about $1,000 per student less than the Canada average.
So why is the strike continuing?
Leading up to our last election, Premier Christy Clark committed to balancing the budget. Complying with the courts' order could destroy that goal. In the current negotiations, government wants to compromise what the courts have decided. BCTF says "no."
Some suggest the contract language demanded by government would allow Victoria to tear up any agreement if the court goes against them this fall. So teachers, parents and students are hung out to dry to satisfy a political agenda.
Some speculate the government will stand by and hope the teachers capitulate as they're not getting any strike pay or compensation. Some say teachers are sacrificing and won't back down. Whatever, the students are losing.
What do you suspect would happen if you or I decided to disregard or violate a court ruling?
Let's get students back to school - even if I have to pay higher taxes.
