Skip to main content

B.C. Teachers' Federation President Jim Iker addresses members of the media in Vancouver, Tuesday, Sept.16, 2014.JONATHAN HAYWARD/The Canadian Press

Both the B.C. government and the union representing the province's public school teachers emerged from marathon negotiations this week appearing to claim victory. In the government's corner, Premier Christy Clark beamed as she spoke of the "remarkable achievement" in negotiating a historic, six-year agreement that would help "reset the relationship" between the two sides.

Meanwhile, B.C. Teachers' Federation president Jim Iker spoke of a tentative agreement with "meaningful achievements" and "no concessions."

But how did each party's proposals really shake out in the end? The Globe and Mail compares what was offered earlier this summer and what the two sides ultimately agreed upon. The union's membership will vote on the tentative agreement on Thursday.

(Connect with our B.C. teachers' strike live blog for the latest updates on the strike.)

Salary

In June, the teachers' union had asked for an 8-per-cent salary increase over five years, down from the 13.5 per cent over three years it had asked for earlier in the year. What it settled for, according to the tentative agreement signed Tuesday, was 7.25 per cent over six years – the same amount the government had tabled in April. Canada's annual inflation rate is about 2 per cent a year; teachers critical of the agreement argue this amounts to a wage cut.

Signing bonus

The government had initially offered a signing bonus of $1,200, which expired, while the teachers' union later asked for a signing bonus of $5,000. Under the tentative agreement, the government would provide a one-time, $105-million fund to settle union grievances around class size and composition, for the union to use as it sees fit; the union has indicated it would distribute this money to members in the form of a signing bonus.

Class size and composition

Under the tentative agreement, a $400-million education fund would be established to hire bargaining unit members to address the contentious class size and composition issues that have dogged much of the lengthy labour dispute. Mr. Iker said this fund would mean "several hundred new teaching positions each year." The amounts would be divided into $75-million for 2014-15, $80-million the following three school years and $85-million in 2018-19. The government had earlier offered $300-million for this. A government provision known as E80 – which would have brought both sides to the table on these issues and effectively "negotiated away" two B.C. Supreme Court decisions, according to Mr. Iker – has been removed.

Preparation time

Elementary school teachers currently get 90 minutes of preparation time a week. The BCTF has proposed increases to preparation time to 120 minutes a week this year, 150 minutes next year and 180 minutes in 2016; the two sides settled on 100 minutes a week immediately, increasing to 110 minutes in 2019, according to the tentative agreement.

Joint employer/employee committees would be struck to discuss prep time for secondary teachers and adult educators.

Follow related authors and topics

Authors and topics you follow will be added to your personal news feed in Following.

Interact with The Globe