In the photo: Premier Christy Clark has urged the BCTF to suspend its strike. Union president Jim Iker said that will not happen. KTW file photo
The president of the Kamloops-Thompson Teachers’ Association (KTTA) dismissed Premier Christy Clark’s press conference yesterday (Sept. 3), at which she spoke about the wage demands and $5,000 signing bonus language tabled by the B.C. Teachers’ Federation (BCTF).
“The government put that on the table,” David Komljenovic said of the idea of a signing bonus.
“But, it’s not an issue anymore. We don’t even talk about it at the [bargaining] table.”
Komljenovic is a member of the BCTF’s provincial bargaining committee.
As for wages, he said his union has tabled eight per cent over five years and the government has countered with seven per cent over six years.
“So, wages really aren’t a big issue either,” he said. “We’re close on that.”
At her news conference, Clark urged the BCTF to suspend its strike to allow public school classes to open while negotiations continue.
She also insisted the union get “realistic” and move toward the public-sector pattern on wage increases so the two sides can hammer out a deal to improve class support for special needs, which she called the biggest issue facing the education system.
“There are no easy fixes and no shortcuts to achieving long-term labour peace for kids,” Clark said.
BCTF president Jim Iker ruled out a pause in the strike along the lines of the two-week truce the province proposed last week and is still offering.
“The government remains entrenched and unwilling to be flexible,” he told reporters. “We’re not suspending any strike right now.”
The premier had been criticized in recent days for keeping a low profile — apart from a few posts on Twitter and Facebook — as the teachers strike rolled into September without a deal.
“I’ve been here,” she said when asked if she was hiding behind Twitter, adding she has been working with the Education Minister Peter Fassbender, the negotiating team and cabinet.
“The teachers union needs to come to the table with a proposal that is realistic,” Clark told reporters.
“For heaven’s sake, 150,000 other public sector employees who work just as hard have settled for far less. They didn’t get a $5,000 signing bonus. They didn’t get unlimited massage. They didn’t get an extra day off every year.”
In fact, the massage demand, when it was still on the table, was for a maximum of $3,000 per year on a doctor’s prescription.
Komljenovic said he’s not surprised Clark doesn’t plan to order teachers back to work when the legislative assembly reconvenes in October.
“They realize any legislation would likely be subject to another court decision that we would win again,” Komljenovic said.
Clark said the eventual deal with teachers must be fair — giving them a deserved raise, but also respecting that other unionized workers have accepted the government’s economic mandate offer on wages.
Komljenovic said he knows many teachers, particularly those families with both parents in the profession, are facing financial challenges.
“I personally am in that position,” he said as he and his wife, parents of school-aged children, are teachers.
“But, the teachers are angry and they’re resolved and, for them, this is really about student supports.”
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