For the first time ever, experienced BC teachers will cross the 100-thousand-dollar-a-year threshold.
That’s according to BC Teachers Federation President Clint Johnston after a tentative agreement was reached with the Public School Employers Association yesterday (Monday).
In an interview with Vista Radio, Johnston noted under the proposed terms, this will leapfrog BC into the top tier of teacher salaries.
“It’s been a long time since we were among the lowest paid in the most expensive jurisdiction and it wasn’t viable. Hopefully, the new deal will keep us on pace with that cost of living increase on what we are seeing right now. We are very happy with the deal overall and glad to recommend it to members so that teachers can continue to work in the classroom and get a good deal.”
“I think that says everything. We’ve tried to get a good read on the membership and understand where they are at and we think this deal meets their needs and is good for them.”
Under the tentative three-year deal, annual pay for teachers on the high end of the salary grid will make $10,000 to $13,500 more per year according to Johnston.
New members, on the other hand, would earn about $6,000 to $8,500 more per year depending on their current role.
“I don’t think it’s any secret that we have been talking for a long time about having the difficulty of having wage increases that don’t keep up to the cost of living and therefore you are effectively getting a salary cut. I think that is a big part of what we are seeing now in terms of the significant teacher shortage across the province and the need to make some gains in there is a huge as we try and make this a viable profession,” added Johnston.
PG District Teachers Association President, Daryl Beauregard stated the ratification process should be complete by the middle of this month.
“On the 10th (of November) I am having a special general meeting to have the membership really look things through and I expect a ratification vote to take place within a week of that meeting.”
The tentative deal is for three years and will also include other significant benefits.
The BCTF represents nearly 49,000 teachers who deliver education to students in the province’s 60 school districts.
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