Province, union closer to ending B.C. strike as teachers face fine

B.C. students were closer to returning to the classrooms Friday thanks to a mediator's proposal that received a blessing by the province and cautious approval by the union representing teachers, who were fined for walking off the job illegally.

Premier Gordon Campbell told a news conference the government will accept mediator Vince Ready's recommendations unconditionally to end the two-week strike that affects 600,000 students.

However, Jinny Sims, head of the B.C. Teachers' Federation representing the public school teachers, told CBC Radio that the acceptance of the proposal is conditional on the province agreeing to provide firm class-size numbers and support for special-needs students.

Sims spoke hours before B.C. Supreme Court Justice Brenda Brown fined the union $500,000 for contempt of court for ignoring a return-to-work court order.

Brown said the fine would have been significantly larger but she took into consideration that the province and teachers are closer to reaching a deal.

However, Sims said the union wants certain guarantees before accepting the mediator's report. "We need for our students a guarantee in writing that this government will make changes to the School Act to put firm class-size numbers" in place, she said.

"And in the School Act, they will address class composition. And that means support for special needs kids."

On the key issue of class sizes and special needs students, Ready made two recommendations an extra $20 million this year to improve learning conditions and unspecified changes to the School Act to limit class sizes.

Sims said if the province is willing to give firm numbers, she's ready to recommend that her 38,000 members vote in favour of the deal this weekend.

If both sides accept the proposal, classes could resume by Monday.

Teachers walked off the job Oct. 7 in a move to press their demands for higher wages and smaller class sizes, despite the fact 2001 provincial legislation removed their right to strike by declaring education an essential service.

It's been a rocky road for Ready in piecing together a settlement proposal that would bring the province and teachers together. At one point he said he could see no hope for a quick end to the dispute, given the tone of statements from both sides.

But after pulling out of mediation efforts, Ready came forward with a settlement proposal Thursday that suggests:

• The government spend $40 million to harmonize teachers' salaries throughout the province.
• B.C. invest an extra $20 million on top of previously announced funds to reduce class sizes and deal with special needs students, for a total of $170 million.
• The government consult with the B.C. Teachers' Federation (BCTF) about how the School Act should be amended to shrink class sizes.
• The province agree to contribute a one-time payment of $40 million to the federation's long-term disability fund.
• The government top up the pay of substitute teachers to $190 a day.

"I believe the recommendations provide a fair basis for resolution of the present dispute, especially in the context of the additional opportunities for the BCTF to address these and other issues in the next few months," Ready's report said.

• FROM OCT. 20, 2005: B.C. teachers strike at a stalemate: mediator

Campbell's administration has been firm on its position that there is little more money in provincial coffers to allocate to education.

When it received word of Ready's proposal, the British Columbia Federation of Labour called off a planned public service strike.

However, 40,000 members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees are holding a one-day protest Friday that is shutting down municipal services such as libraries, recreation centres and bylaw enforcement. Police, fire, transit and medical workers are not taking part in the protest.