The BC Teachers Federation (BCTF) and the BC Public School Employers’ Association (BCPSEA) are looking to schedule a meeting early in the year to continue mediation on a new contract for teachers.
Talks began 11 months ago for the contract, and teachers have been working under an expired contract since the end of June.
BCTF and BCPSEA last met with the mediator, David Schaub, on Dec. 10 and 11 at which time he gave both some issues to consider, according to BCPSEA.
The next step will be to figure out a date to meet again with the mediator, which BCPSEA expects will happen early in the year.
The mediator last made recommendations for a resolution in early November, which were then rejected by the BCTF’s Representative Assembly, which includes representations from all teacher locals.
In the last several months have only produced silence and the BCTF and BCPSEA are holding their cards close to their chests, not talking publicly where negotiations are at.
The Ministry of Education wants to update the language around class size and composition making it standard across the province, something that is worrisome to teachers.
The Richmond Teachers’ Association claimed it would mean fewer teachers if the new formula from BCPSEA were accepted. But BCPSEA refuted that claim, saying there wouldn't be any loss of teaching staff if their new formulas are accepted.
