BCTF President calls upon Premier to meet and resolve dispute
BCTF President Jim Iker is calling upon Premier Christy Clark to meet with him to help reach a fair settlement to the current strike/lockout before September 2. Over the weekend in talks with Vince Ready, the BCTF trimmed its package by $125 million. By contrast the BC Public School Employers’ Association did not bring one ...
BCTF too far from affordability zone for mediation
Minister of Education Peter Fassbender issued the following statement Saturday following the decision by mediator Vince Ready to leave talks: "Today veteran labour mediator Vince Ready determined that the parties are too far apart for mediation at this time. "I'm very disappointed for students, parents and teachers. What...
LETTER: SD 20 Superintendent says Tuesday won't see back-to-school in area
August 29, 2014 Dear parents and guardians: Unfortunately, as of writing this letter, no settlement has been achieved between the BC Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) and the BC Public School Employers’ Association (BCPSEA). This reality has put the start of the school year in serious jeopardy. The normal hustle and bustle of the...
Stopping Conflict in South Sudan Though Nonviolence
When Selkirk College Instructor Randy Janzen traveled to South Sudan in June, it wasn’t to report on the looming humanitarian crisis caused by famine and civil war in that country. On the contrary, the Peace Studies Program instructor wanted to learn more about an exciting project where local and international professionals...
UPDATED: Mediator Ready walks out on talks; sides are too far apart
There will be no deal in the teachers' strike coming soon as veteran mediator Vince Ready walked out on talks between the B.C. teachers' union and the provincial government Saturday evening in Richmond, B.C.. Ready left negotiations saying the sides are too far apart to come to a resolution anytime soon. "I don’t see a...
Kootenay Lake Superintendent addresses start of school year
Editor, The Nelson Daily Many parents and caregivers have been contacting us anxiously wondering when school will be starting for the 2014-2015 school year. We are hopeful that our schools will be open on (Tuesday) September 2 and that our 2014-2015 school year will commence. At the time of writing, a negotiated agreement has...
SD board of trustees issues letter to parents re: teachers strike
Dear parents and guardians: As you are likely aware, the BC Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) and the BC Public School Employers’ Association (BCPSEA) have not been able to make significant progress over the summer months and so the possibility of schools opening as usual following Labour Day is uncertain. The Board hopes that the...
Veteran mediator Vince Ready agrees to help solve the teacher's dispute
Mediator Vince Ready is having a change of heart in the teachers dispute with the government. After declining to get involved earlier, the veteran mediator has decided to make himself available in an attempt to end the labour dispute between B.C. Teachers' Federation and the B.C. Public School Employers' Association, the...
Basin Youth to Benefit from Junior Achievement’s Expansion into the Region
This fall, youth in the Columbia Basin will be able to learn about entrepreneurship and the viability of self-employment as a career option when Junior Achievement of British Columbia (JABC) expands into the region. The expansion is possible through a partnership with Columbia Basin Trust (the Trust), which is contributing ...
Talks in BC teachers' strike resume with less than a month before new term begins
The on-again, off-again negotiations in the teacher's strike are, on-again, for now. The provincial government said the resumption of bargaining Friday will resume with the B.C. Teachers' Federation this week. Both sides in the dispute say not much progress is being made. The slow progress has forced the B.C. Confederation ...
