The Finder

 

This week, Honourable Minister of George Abbott asked Margaret MacDiarmid to appoint an "independent" fact finder to determine whether or not an agreement could potentially be reached between the BC Teacher's Federation and the BC Public School Employers Association.  The story can be found here.  Now there are a number of issues that this announcement brings up.

1. George is creating a crisis to end negotiation and introduce legislation.  Report Cards came and went, but didn't create enough panic to introduce legislation and actually made the government look foolish when blank report cards were sent out.  So George waits until there is a lull in bargaining with no dates set and basically states "this isn't working" 
   2. BCPSEA has to be upset.  Outside of the 2005 buy out for labour peace what has BCPSEA been able to bargain? Not much.  This move completely undermines any credibility they had.  Mel Joy has been out in the media saying they would be at the bargaining table 24/7 (although allegedly missing a meeting doesn't help...I know...I know...depends on which side of the story you hear).  Not that George has openly questioned their ability to negotiate a contract (which was made harder for BCPSEA with the sub zero) This is leading people to question, 'what is the purpose of BCPSEA if the government is going to legislate contracts?' In addition, they had put a proposal forward, a crazy concession filled proposal, but a proposal nonetheless.
   3. The weird intermarriage of the BC Libs.  George asks Margaret (a former Minister of Education...c'mon remember "Highest Funding Ever") to appoint the fact finder.  BCPSEA already has Claire Avison on their panel to advise George.  Claire's husband Don is the author of the infamous Avison report which depleted the BCCT to make way for the new Teacher's Council. George is a former Minister of Health, Trevor Hughes comes from the health sector and was even on the government's Health bargaining team.  Head hurt? Mine too.
   4. The "independent" fact finder is not "independent" he works for the government, as an assistant deputy minister!  The outcome is pre-determined.
   5. This also takes away from the fact that there has been no movement in Bill 27/28 (and don't even get me started about the Classroom Organization Fund) and the year to fix it and make restitution is rapidly coming to an end.
   6. The BCTF should hire an independent fact finder of their own:

• To combat the government's fact finder
• To show teachers are still trying to get an agreement done
• They might be able areas to focus on or what could be changed in bargaining...for example teachers could give up improvements to dental, the government pulls the net zero (wishful thinking I know)
• It would give the BCTF a tom of free publicity
• If BCPSEA doesn't cooperate fully, as the BCTF is doing, it would show who is really interested in negotiating.

 George went to a former Minister of Education to help him out of a tumultuous situation.  His legislation is written and just waiting for the Legislature to open.