The Ministry of Education and the British Columbia School Trustees Association (BCSTA) released the following joint statement today:

"Boards of education and the government of British Columbia recognize the need to transform our public education system in the coming years to better serve students and our communities. To achieve this, along with the full participation of teachers, the support of the BC Teachers' Federation (BCTF) and public engagement, we need long-term stability in our public education system.

"In November 2012, boards of education, through the BCSTA, submitted a comprehensive review of the teacher collective bargaining structure. Government also received submissions from the BCTF and other education sector groups.

"The B.C. government then put forward, and committed to, a framework for a 10-year agreement in January 2013 that seeks to improve the bargaining process, create long-term labour stability and advance education policy and learning improvements in B.C. public schools.

"The proposed innovations include many ideas previously requested by the BCTF, such as the full right to strike; more matters negotiated at local bargaining tables; improvements to the bargaining process (similar to those recently introduced for the current round of bargaining); and allowing the BCTF to negotiate directly with government on provincial matters.

"Last week, newly appointed Education Minister Peter Fassbender's first partner meeting was with the BCSTA where he indicated that government wanted to begin discussions on how to move forward. At that meeting, it was made clear that government recognizes, and is committed to, a co-governance model with boards of education.

"Accordingly, boards will remain responsible for bargaining for local matters - as they have done for years. At the provincial level, trustees, through the BCSTA, will be integral to the bargaining process and will continue to have a voice and a seat at the table as government bargains directly with the BCTF.

"Achieving these commitments will require adjustments to the BC Public School Employers' Association's (BCPSEA) current role. There is recognition that BCPSEA needs to be part of the solution going forward. There will always be day-to-day labour relations issues where boards of education will benefit from BCPSEA's expert advice. BCPSEA will also continue to play an important supporting role in bargaining, both provincially and locally.

"BCSTA and government are committed to fully engaging boards of education in the coming months as we move forward."

Learn More:

BCSTA Report on the Teacher Collective Bargaining Structure:https://dsweb.bcsta.org/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-71915/2012-11_Bargaining_Task_Force_Report.pdf

Proposed framework for labour peace with teachers: http://www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/2013/06/proposed-framework-for-labour-peace-with-teachers.html

Media Contacts:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Education
250 356-5963

Sherri Moore-Arbour
Director of Communication
British Columbia School Trustees Association
604 842-1107