Attracting and retaining teachers remains a big problem in BC according to the province’s Teachers Federation.
Eight days of mediated talks between the BCTF and the BC Public Schools Employers Association are in full swing as they look to get a deal done before the start of the school year, which is slated to begin September 4th in Prince George.
Starting teacher salaries are $49,000 in BC, which ranks ninth out of all the provinces, especially Alberta where the entry-level salary is $63,000.
BCTF President, Teri Mooring recently spoke with MyPGNow.com.
“We are in a critical teacher shortage in BC, and that means students in the north coast and the north-central regions don’t necessarily have a certified teacher teaching them and that’s wrong, a student regardless of where they live in BC need to have a certified teacher in the classroom.”
Mooring adds they are highly motivated to get a deal done as they don’t want teachers, parents or students to worry on whether or not they are heading back to school on time.
Both sides have been talking since the new year and Mooring is as surprised as any a new contract hasn’t been reached to this point.
“We’re surprised we didn’t reach a deal earlier but eight days of mediation is a long time but the teachers have not taken a strike vote so any sort talk around a potential strike action is premature as we are focused on August right now.”
“We know that it’s really important students, teachers, and their families are able to go back to school with the confidence with a collective agreement fully negotiated and completed.”
Mooring along with the rest of the teachers in the province will not make any concessions when it comes to class size and composition.
“We were in the Supreme Court of Canada and after a 16-year battle we won our language back, our contract language regarding student learning conditions and we’re not willing to see that eroded.”
The BCTF remains hopeful they can achieve a deal before the academic year starts, talks are slated to take place over the next couple weeks.