Local teachers hope the B.C. Teachers' Federation's (BCTF) reduced package of proposals announced Tuesday will move along talks with the provincial government and the B.C. Public School Employers' Association (BCPSEA).
"We're pleased that they've put another package on there," said Comox District Teachers Association (CDTA) president Steve Stanley. "We're hoping that helps get the table moving and continue the discussions that are happening."
However, Education Minister George Abbott immediately said Tuesday the proposal is still not in line with the government's net zero mandate for public sector contracts.
Stanley said the new package is "fair" and pointed out that the salary provisions are similar to other provinces.
According to a BCTF news release, the package proposes a three-year agreement with a salary increase based on cost of living allowance. In year one BCTF wants a three-per-cent cost of living allowance, and in years -two and -three it wants a three per cent cost of living allowance, plus a three per cent market adjustment. Modest benefits increases are also outlined.
Stanley said teachers are generally "not happy" they've had to reduce their proposal package without a counter-proposal from BCPSEA and the Province.
"The government's just saying zero (salary increase)," said Stanley. "We're just not accepting zero. We consider zero to be a pay cut based on the cost of living increases that have been happening."
Meanwhile, Stanley said student learning is still not affected by the prolonged teacher job action.
"If you went into a classroom, you wouldn't notice any difference at all," said Stanley, adding that secondary school exams are coming up next week, and the only visible difference will be that principals and vice-principals will supervise instead of teachers.
Stanley said teachers will give students their grades or post them in classrooms next to student numbers at the end of the semester 鈥� but they still won't hand out report cards.
He said parents can e-mail teachers to talk about their child's progress, and parents seem to be understanding of the situation.
"I haven't heard of any complaints or concerns about lack of information or people who can't reach the teacher," said Stanley.
School District 71 superintendent Sherry Elwood said that student learning is at the same level as in past school years. However, she said some parents are concerned.
"We have received concerns from parents regarding the absence of report cards and the difficulties that some parents are having in obtaining feedback," Elwood explained. "We can only continue to urge parents to continue to connect with their child's teacher, as expected in the Labour Relations Board ruling."
Stanley said SD71 administration/principals/vice-principals and teachers are communicating regularly to keep a strong working relationship in place, unlike some other districts.
"We're not like some school districts are 鈥� quite confrontational or quite a fractured relationship," he said.
Elwood agrees that communication is still strong.
"We went into this job action with a respectful and positive relationship and we are all working together to keep this in place," said Elwood. "We understand that we all have roles to play in a job action landscape, and that we can do this without personalizing what is actually happening more at a provincial level than a local one."
writer@comoxvalleyrecord.com
