KELOWNA – In a big move by the BC Teachers Federation, president Jim Iker proposed a deal to end the strike, calling for the province to go to binding arbitration. That means a third party arbitrator would step in to settle the dispute and whatever that third party says, goes. Iker said this is the “fastest and most fair way” to get kids back in the classroom.
At a closed door session in Kelowna, teachers were all for it.
“I think the general consensus was that this was Jim Iker’s finest moment on camera. It was awesome,” said Kelowna teacher, Brent Applegath.
“Yes, the binding arbitration has optimism, tempered with fear, because we haven’t been treated fairly in the past quite frankly,” said local teacher Ed Schnellert.
Premier Christy Clark didn’t address the proposal, but Education Minister Peter Fassbender said binding arbitration isn’t ideal for either party. He waivered from flat out saying no, rather stating “I’ve not seen any detail in terms of the proposal or preconditions and until we do I’m not going to make any categorical statements here.”
One of if not the biggest contention for teachers is clause E80, which looks at class size, composition and learning conditions. Teachers wanted it off the table completely, but the government didn’t comply. Iker stood firm that E80 would not be part of binding arbitration.
“Please Christy Clark, Fassbender, agree with it,” pleaded teacher Kayla Dominelli. “It’s time to get our kids back in school.”
Comments