For the first time since 2001, a BC minister of education has attended the AGM of the provincial body that represents the province's teachers. On Tuesday morning, March 22, Minister George Abbott spoke to 700 delegates at the Victoria convention of the BC Federation of Teachers.
"I'm told that minister of education sightings are relatively rare at your gatherings, rather like a Sasquatch in Stanley Park," said Abbott. "We need to find a way to make peace."
"George asked to speak, and we welcomed him," BCTF first vice president Jim Iker told The Tyee. "He said he wanted to listen to our concerns, and we are glad to hear that. We hope for a meeting with the minister soon, and for productive bargaining."
One observer noted a new tone in Abbott's presentation.
"A new area of focus for Abbott, not before heard from government, was improving teacher satisfaction. Abbott assured the audience that while improving student outcomes was a priority, improving 'teacher satisfaction' in the workplace should also be an area of attention," wrote Paul Hillsdon, a Lower Mainland-based blogger.
Iker said that although the BCTF hoped for a new relationship with the minister, he felt no big sense of increased optimism about bargaining prospects.
"After all, the minister has been in government while we experienced the loss of nearly 3,000 positions in BC education, as class sizes have gone up and support staff have been lost. We're concerned about protecting quality education and reversing the trend of chronic under funding we have seen in the past decade," he said.
"We are under no illusions, but we hope we can make headway for the children of BC."
Iker was one of three table officers were elected by acclamation for one-year terms on Tuesday. The others were Susan Lambert as president and Glen Hansman, a Vancouver primary school teacher, as second vice president. Four members at large were elected for two year terms, Teri Mooring of Quesnel, David Komljenovic of Kamloops, Christine Stewart of Vancouver and Paul Steer of Delta. Joanna Larson of Prince Rupert was elected to serve a one year term as member at large.
Tom Sandborn covers labour and health policy beats for The Tyee.
12
Login or register to post comments
Christy Fan
2 years ago
Then BCTF... w/ no illusions...
Don't expect or ask for a pay increase.
Ask for working condition improvements.
That's why Premier Clark made George Abbott Honourable again... aim for peace w/ the BCTF. Many hopes among all sides of politics...
sunshine coast girl
2 years ago
Don't be sucked in....
This "new era of cooperation" will only last until Christy gets elected in a general election and then it will be "business as usual" for these people. They've had 10 years to attend a BCTF AGM. Funny this is the first one they've made, isn't it?
Skywalker
2 years ago
Imagine that..
Christy Fan says; "ask for working conditions improvements" from the same people who made them worse. Boy there is a good deal for the government. They get to blow their horn about how wonderful they are by cleaning up a mess they made years ago - a mess started by none other than Christy herself. They must really have a very low opinion of the intelligence of teachers.
Christy Fan
2 years ago
Skywalker
Sure, blah, blah, blah.
Just remember if the BCTF doesn't play nice w/ Minister George... they can get the what-for by the same BCLib team that has suppressed two ILLEGAL strikes, won three election victories and has air superiority.
We all hope for peace. But the BCTF has in the past been unable to work w/ BCLib & BCNDP governments in the past...
Skywalker
2 years ago
Christy Fan
Such an articulate response, Did you come up with that all by yourself? We'll see which party the teachers have faith in this time now that they have had 10 years of the Campbell/Christy crowd.
DPL
2 years ago
Nobody here does the
Nobody here does the negotiating. George doesn't either, so let's just quiet down and let the two sides do their work.
pianosaurus rex
2 years ago
head in the sand
Christy Fan is a really sad case of ostrich in the sand……
It is the same old game isn’t it; the government gets elected years back and places a stone in your shoe….
After your foot gets really sore along comes some government representative to remove the stone.
So now, we are supposed to be so grateful as to forget who put the stone there in the first place.
At the opening soccer game of the Whitecaps at Empire Field Cluck cluck Clark was introduced and LOUDLY BOOED by all in the stands.
You know ChristyFan, booed by ordinary working folks like you and me…..But you won’t find a story about this in the MSM.
Christy Fan
2 years ago
News flash...
a) The wage freeze is for ALL public employees, not just teachers.
b) It's Premier Christy Clark, show some respect - you know who you are.
c) Politicians at sporting events? Kinda tone-deaf and I'm saying it.
morechatter
2 years ago
How peaceful can it get?
With a room full of angry women, watch out for yourself George, this is a peaceful as it gets.
And Christy Clark fan - we know who you are - show some respect - get a grip or soemthing like that.
Stewart MacKenzie
2 years ago
What does Gwyn think?
Wonder what Clark's handler/guru Morgan thinks about the BCTF? Good luck with the love in, George, it won't last long with extremists like Morgan giving Christy direction.
Anyone who believes Clark is doing the thinking for this "new" government needs to take a look at the crew around her.
The folks with the money are calling the shots, their emissaries and bag people are running Clark, and Christy is reading the scripts and trying to look perky.
A 5% poll lead is pathetic, considering the boost she should be getting from all the biased "reporting".
The MSM publishes the odd critical article, though, as in Ethan Baron's column today.
Read more: http://www.theprovince.com/business/call+back+Morgan+hardly+shocking/4495173/story.html#ixzz1HXrsU5JR
pianosaurus rex
2 years ago
call it like I see it
ChristyFan,
When cluck cluck and her merry band of sycophants demonstrate some actual respect for citizens of British Columbia it may, and I repeat may, be returned to them.
Tell us ChristyFan who was it exactly that made her premier? Was it the citizens of BC, or was it 2000 or so card carrying liberals sycophants like yourself?
Anyways back to the actual topic, the liberal minister with an alleged olive branch. Yes of course we believe you George……
morechatter
2 years ago
Could this happen to education system in BC?
http://www.calgaryherald.com/health/Calgary+Board+Education+positions/4485718/story.html
School board saves 24 million and cuts 174 jobs. Despite collecting 48 million for education that fails to make the grade and ends up in the cities pocket.