North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice has offered some thoughts on the late September information rally outside of her constituency office, where a small gathering of local teachers and their supporters had taken their contract concerns to their MLA's front door.
During the rally teachers made note of a number of areas where they are looking for some progress on from the NDP government.
With the teacher's relaying a list that addressed teacher shortages, additional resources and supplies for students, as well as support for the retention and recruitment of teachers.
They also highlighted the low level of funding for classrooms provided by the province, as well as to note that BC teachers are the lowest salaried educators in the country.
With the MLA away on Haida Gwaii during the September 30th rally, the teachers' message was heard mostly by those waiting for the bus at the Ocean Centre, or members of the public who happened to pass by on the street or sidewalk during the event outside of the MLA's office.
Ms. Rice did however appear to get some Coles' Notes on the their concerns from that day, providing for her reply through the weekly paper.
The address for the most part one that reminded constituents of the investment that the NDP government has provided for the province's education system since taking office.
With Ms. Rice providing for a check list of sorts, making note of new resources for classrooms supplemental needs funding and a capital investment project to replace aging schools and to fast track seismic upgrades.
The correspondence also returned to a frequent reminder for readers from the MLA as to how the NDP has invested more in education, than that of the previous Liberal government of Christy Clark
On labour issues, the MLA steers clear on the status of the current teachers contract discussions for the most part, noting only that the British Columbia Public Schools Employers Association has applied for mediation as part of the dispute.
She does note that on labour issues nearly 70% of the public sector workers in the province have been able to get what she describes as a fair deal in their contract negotiations.
As well Ms. Rice observes as to how nurses, paramedics and K-12 support staff in the schools have all found success in their negotiations, adding that she believes that the teachers can also find that same success.
To make sure that her constituents had an opportunity to read her thoughts on the state of education in British Columbia today, the North Coast MLA has provided a link to her letter by way of her Facebook page.
For the most part, the current round of negotiations has moved through the fall with a fairly successful news blackout in place, with few comments heard from either the BCSPEA or the BCTF
However, Teachers across the province and some with SD52 in Prince Rupert have been taking to social media when they aren't hosting information lines at MLA's office.
The commentary one which relays their concerns over the pace of negotiations and commitment of the provincial government on a range of issues that remain unresolved.
A quick scan of the #bctf or #bced twitter feeds will provide for some familiar names from Prince Rupert classrooms engaged in the debate and weighing in on the discussion through the social media platforms.
The current of those conversations for the most part has the teachers and their supporters expressing some strong disillusionment with the NDP government. With many expressing some frustration for a party that once perhaps benefited significantly from their efforts and their votes.
There has not been much to add to our archive of notes on the negotiations since we last updated it in September, you can review some of the issues of note in that make for the talks from the archive here.
For more items of interest related to education on the North Coast see our Education archive here.
Cross posted from the North Coast Review.
No comments:
Post a Comment