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3 facts you need to know
…about the BCTF strike
By Bill Bennett
Kootenay East MLA
1. B.C.’s education system produces the best outcomes in Canada and some of the best outcomes in the world. Outcomes for special needs students in particular have improved since 2001. The BC Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) claim that education is in crisis is untrue but we do want teachers and students back in the classroom immediately.
2. Class composition is our number one priority at the table. We want to help students with new resources, more teachers and educational assistants, but we must focus on what does the most good. Whether it’s more BCTF or CUPE members doesn’t matter – students’ needs come first.
3. Any labour negotiation includes the employer and the employee. For anyone to suggest that “government should just settle this,” what they are really saying is that the taxpayer should very simply pay the BCTF double what other public sector unions have already agreed to.
