I feel the teachers picked the wrong horse in the last election and honestly they just have to eat it and live with the consequences. Refusing to accept reality, doesn't struck me as wise. Honestly I think that sets a bad example to students. Life just doesn't always go your way. It seems the teachers collectively are just holding their breath and hoping the gov will change its mind. The lack of grace is amazing. I think would have been a better life lesson for the students (if they really care) to show them how to live through and rise from adversity.

Liberals were elected back with a STRONG mandate. Their popularity won't matter much this early.

At the end of the day, most parents just want their kids at school. With the rise of private tutoring companies and private schools, I don't think parents have a lot of faith in the public system anyway. The teachers are fighting a losing battle.

Let me preface this by saying that I think the teachers are in the wrong here. They should take a queue from the nurses and bargain appropriately without having the need for job action.

Interesting fact most people don't know is that private schools get funded 35% (per student) of public schools. I don't know why we need to subsidize rich kids when it's their choice to forgo public schools

^^ Nurses can bargain "appropriately" because they have the power to do so. Back in 1980, the nurses went on strike for 2 weeks and chaos promptly occurred. I don't remember if any patients have died as a result of the their job action, but the government understandably caved in, and the nurses went on to secure themselves a 40% raise over 3 years, while hospital nurses got a 49% increase over 27 months. The BCTF is not asking for raises like that, and will never get those levels even if they try.

But what is interesting is that a good 16 - 17 years ago, nurses and teachers make about the same amount of money. But now? Nurses are probably making a solid 20 - 30% more.

As I have said many times in this thread, the issues between the provincial government and the BCTF (and its members) is complicated, and the bad blood runs deep between the two. There is no single side that is "in the wrong", although I believe that this time around, the government is at the bigger fault.

it's actually funding up to 50%. The flipside of the argument is - imagine if you cut funding to the private schools, and half of their students now enter the public school system. BC would not be able to afford having that many more students in their public schools.

Their parents all pay taxes, some of them even quite a bit more taxes than the average person. I don't see why part of the funding can't go to independent schools when BC is actually saving money by having them forgo public schools.

If I ever have kids there is no fucking way I would send them to a public school with the unwashed masses

Please do not have kids.

Health care costs will continue to consume the public purse, but as long as we continue to have public health care, nurses will always have more bargaining power than teachers. Everyone needs health care (particularly older people who vote), while parents can choose private schools, home-schooling, etc over the public school system.

Methinks that some teachers should have become nurses or other health-care practitioners instead.

Haha, if I ever have a kids that turn out like you I'll do the world a favor, take them out to the barn and shoot them. :)

Stage 2 only included no supervision and no meetings led by administration. Teachers were still marking and planning. It was the government lockout that prevented any work to be done 45 mins before and after school, and during breaks and lunch. I will agree that the 10% figure is completely arbitrary.

I also agree that the class size and composition should be fought by the public and not the teachers. When the teachers say that they are fighting for the kids, this is what they are referring to. Short term pain (no exams, summer school, some grad activities) for long term gain.

:yuno:


?One per cent apart on wages? technically not true, says BCTF | News1130

And I would remind the class again, that the decision to go to a full-scale walkout WITH TWO WEEKS LEFT IN THE SCHOOL YEAR was ENTIRELY THE CHOICE Of (a large majority of) THE TEACHERS THEMSELVES.

Soundy, should I remind the class again that the provincial government has twice been ruled by the provincial supreme court that the provincial government has broken the class size law and special needs student provisions?

We can go back and forth, round and round as many times as well want over these details, and this is exactly what the government and the BCTF have been doing to result in this impasse.

All of which is irrelevant to my point above.

I hate unions that work for the public sector. IMHO, it happens at the end of every contract with the BCTF.

Sign contract now for 5 years. In 5 years BCTF again shoots for the fucking stars, doesn't get it, and strikes. And then they say "its for the children."

Sure everybody wants a raise, I understand that. Yet not everybody needs fucking benefits falling out their asshole. $3k annually for massages.. Paid hours to "take care of a friend"?!?! MORE paid vacation hours... None of which benefits "the children."

IMHO the BCTF is just greasy. They should be fighting to increase the budget for more teachers, fuck all their benefits. I personally know tons of teachers who either; can't find work, can only pick up sub. jobs, or get laid off at the end of every school year.

[quote=melloman;8497870]I hate unions that work for the public sector. IMHO, it happens at the end of every contract with the BCTF.[/quotes]
That's not YHO, that's just historical record. :troll:

Well gee, if they were smart, they should just suck it up for now, and stick it out until the NDP gets in next time to give them a sweetheart deal for the next.... ooohhhh wait, didn't they try that once already, and it backfired with a Liberal majority?

Hmmmm....

I drove by a few schools today.. the teachers are not picketing anymore, what's the deal with that?

Because summer vacation, that's why.

I noticed the same up here as well.

Handing out the money they would be paying teachers to help with daycare costs brought on by the strike is pretty smart if you ask me.

B.C. parents to receive $40 per day per child under 13 if teachers? strike drags on | Globalnews.ca

lol, for parents with 2 kids under 13 that's $400 a week.

I wonder if they'll deduct tax from that though..haha.

Anyway, it's essentially a big middle finger with a smile to the BCTF.

Yeah, basically strengthen there position by removing all that extra money saved out of the negotiations and at the same time gained favor with parents who are effected by the strike. Politically and as far as negotiations go this move was genius IMO.

It will be Tax free. Much like how LOA (living out allowance) is tax free and separate from general income.

Depends on your perspective. It also shows you clearly how little interest the provincial government has in sincerely negotiating a contract with BCTF.

I would totally call this negotiation in bad faith.

This is pretty slimy move by the gov't... it's essentially bribe money!