こんなのがまわってきました。お子さんが学校にいっている人は一読するといいとおもいます。また、親としてどういう立場をとるか、というのは、各学校のPACを通してできそうですね。
BC CONFEDERATION OF PARENT ADVISORY COUNCILS
Suite 202, 1545 West 8t h Avenue, Vancouver, BC V6J 1T5
Tel: 604-687-44 3 3 Fax: 604-687-4488 Email:
info@bccpac.bc.ca
Frequently Asked Questions on the Labour Dispute October 2005
1. What is BCCPAC’s position on the teachers’ strike?
BCCPAC strongly believes that all parties must keep the best interests of students first when making any decision that will affect their education. Students’ interests are best served by
having teachers teaching them. The deliberations of adults should not adversely affect the daily operations of school communities or the educational outcomes for students.
2. Why doesn’t BCCPAC come out and support the BCTF in their strike action?
BCCPAC values the role that teachers (indeed all educators) have in the academic and social development of our children. We recognize that they have a significant stake in the education
system and a right to state their positions.
BCTF has 3 primary issues that they wish to negotiate:
• reinstate class size and composition limitations in the collective agreement
• restore their bargaining rights
• obtain a salary increase.
BCCPAC specifically has resolutions to the contrary for the first two (Resolutions 2000.19, 2005.25, 2002.19, 2000.4). BCCPAC members have said clearly, by resolution, that they want
education to be an essential service (Resolution 2000.4). Parents have the right under the School Act and want the ability to have a say on other conditions that make up the learning environment. For example:
• class size
• class composition
• selection criteria for teachers in special education
• conflict resolution processes
• safe school initiatives.
If these conditions are defined in a collective agreement, then parents, as well as others in the school community, do not have the ability to comment on the issues. Parents in BC have often
heard administrators say, “I can’t do anything about that. It is within the teachers’ contract.”
Regarding a salary increase, BCCPAC members have not taken a particular position, but have regularly passed resolutions to require legislated increases in salaries and benefits to be fully funded (Resolutions 2003.13, 2003.12). (Fully funded means additional funds are added to the school district’s allotment after the legislated increases.) Indeed, BCCPAC members have regularly passed resolutions requesting both general and specific increases to education funding.
3. What happened in negotiations: Who is the dispute between, when did they start, and why did they stop?
The BCTF is the authorized bargaining agent for teachers in BC. The authorized bargaining agent for the employer (local school boards) is the BC Public School Employers’ Associatio (BCPSEA). These two agents first met on November 9, 2004, to talk about the contract that had expired the previous June 30, 2004. (The agreement included a bridging clause that maintains
the contract until a new one is signed.) Each agent tabled topics to talk about. As late as May 3, 2005, the parties were still at the clarification stage. On June 21, BCTF said they would resume talks after their Representative Assembly had met in late August. In mid-September, talks were stalled and the Minister of Labour appointed a Fact Finder to meet with the parties. The report was that there was no possibility of resolution. On October 3, BCTF announced strike action would begin October 7.
See updates on BCPSEA website and BCTF website
•
http://www.bcpsea.bc.ca/public/aboutus/backgrounder/05-may3.pdf
•
http://www.bctf.ca/bargain/negotiations2004
This bargaining structure whereby the employer is represented by an umbrella organization is similar to the health care sector. It is not unique to the education sector.
4. What is the issue about class size?
“Class size” refers to the total number of students in any one class taught by one teacher. Prior to 2002, there were specific limits defined within the teachers’ collective agreement on the number of students in any one class. In January 2002, the government removed the limits from the collective agreement and put class size limits in law (i.e. in the School Act with accompanying Class Size Regulation).
The intention of the change was that the planning of schools could be accomplished through a new framework consisting of parents, teachers, principals, school boards, and the newly created school planning councils. The changes had the effect of moving school organization matters from the collective agreement and collective bargaining into public policy. The BCTF opposed the legislation and has continued to challenge it.
See these updates:
•
http://www.mediaroom.gov.bc.ca/teacher_negotiations/classsize.pdf
•
http://www.bctf.ca/newsreleases/archive/2005/2005-09-06.html
5. What is the issue about class composition?
“Class composition” refers to the make-up of the class generally. It could include the number of students who need extra assistance because they speak English as a second language or have learning or physical disabilities.
Prior to January 2002, the teachers’ collective agreement contained clauses that limited the number of students needing extra assistance. The government removed these limitations from
the collective agreement and put the limitations into law (i.e. the School Act). The intention of the change was the same as for class size, namely that the planning of schools could be
accomplished through a new framework consisting of parents, teachers, principals, school boards, and the newly created school planning councils. The ability to make changes at the local level would allow the flexibility that is needed given the diverse needs of schools and districts in BC. The BCTF opposed the legislation then and continue to challenge the change. The BCTF would like the limitations reinstated in their collective agreement.
6. If teachers’ working conditions are our children’s learning conditions, why can’t we just support them?
Parents also want the ability to have a say on conditions that make up the learning environment.
For example:
• class size
• class composition
• selection criteria for teachers in special education
• conflict resolution processes
• safe school initiatives.
If these conditions are defined in a collective agreement, then parents do not have the ability to comment on the issues. BCCPAC believes that decisions regarding class size and composition must be made in the district in full consultation with all partners including parents.
BCCPAC members care very much about class size and the needs of students. We have many resolutions that define this concern: Resolutions 2000.19, 2005.25, and 2002.19.
7. What is the Learning Roundtable?
This is a new initiative of the Ministry of Education and will be a meeting of the major education partners in order to meaningfully discuss the important learning conditions. The
invited members are BCTF (teachers), BCCPAC (parents), BCSTA (trustees), BCPVP (principals), and BCSSA (superintendents). The members will ascertain the terms of reference.
8. What other solutions to strike action are there?
• Go back to the negotiating table where BCPSEA and BCTF are agents.
• Attend the Learning Roundtable.
• Bring up the topics and issues at the Education Advisory Council (where there is a broader group of education partners).
• Improve the bargaining process through the Industrial Inquiry Commission.
9. Where does BCCPAC get the authority to take the positions it does?
BCCPAC is a provincial non-profit organization whose members are the school Parent Advisory Councils and District Parent Advisory Councils. At the school level, each parent or guardian of a child in the school is automatically a member of the PAC (whether or not they are active). This group then chooses annually to become a member of BCCPAC (cost is $65). Each member has the opportunity to bring forward resolutions to be voted on by all member PACs.
These resolutions are discussed at the school and the collective opinion of the PAC becomes its vote and is sent by proxy to the AGM. Approved resolutions become the position statements of BCCPAC. Annually, over 2/3 of the PACs in the province choose to become members of BCCPAC.
All the education partners in BC recognize BCCPAC as the collective voice of parents in this province.
10. What will happen if we cross a picket line? Should our PAC or DPAC cancel our meetings or scheduled events?
Each PAC is autonomous and will consider the context of the scheduled event and the school community. Some communities have reported that there are no picket lines in the evenings.
Therefore, the meetings or events do not have a line to cross. Other communities report there was no concern about crossing the picket line to hold the PAC or DPAC meeting.
Each PAC will determine what kind of situation would make parents uncomfortable. PACs are encouraged to make an effort to communicate their concerns with the teachers, parents, and
others in the school community and endeavor to maintain positive and respectful communication.
11. What have parents said they are concerned about so far?
Most parents are concerned about the unknown length of the strike. Another concern is about the reduction in learning for their children, particularly grade 10, 11, and 12 students who must write provincial exams. Students were prepared differently with some being sent home with no homework, others with homework for 2 weeks, some for a month, and one school with
homework until December. There is a great deal of concern over special needs and at risk kids who need more consistency in their school experience. There is concern over reports that
teachers will just skip portions of the curriculum in order to complete the term.
12. It has been reported that the teachers have not had a raise in 10 years? Is this right?
In the last contract, the salary increase was 2.5% for each of three years, 2001–2004.
13. What is the ‘net zero’ compensation mandate?
The Public Sector Employers’ Council (PSEC) establishes compensation mandates for public sector collective bargaining. The current compensation mandate is net zero through 2005-2006.
This means that, where the parties are able to secure trade-offs within the total compensation envelope, they may move compensation, e.g., from benefits to wages.