Province says teachers’ deal won’t mean higher taxes

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Premier Christy Clark is describing the tentative teachers’ deal as a “remarkable achievement.”

“In addition to that, we have also reached a historic six-year agreement with teachers. This has never happened before in British Columbia,” she says.

Clark says this will allow both sides to enjoy labour peace for five years and discuss improving education.

“A negotiated settlement was really important because it allows us to reset that relationship which has been dysfunctional for so long. Resetting the relationship, it means we can sit respectfully, talk respectfully, about something that matters to both the government, the teachers’ union, classroom teachers, and students.”

While she hasn’t revealed specific details of the deal, Clark says teachers are getting a fair raise.

“We have improved investment in classroom composition, which was an absolute priority for me to make sure there is more teaching support in classroom for kids. We found a way to do that without raising taxes, we found a way to do it without cutting services, we found a way to do it without going into deficit.”

She says she is hopeful when members vote on the deal on Thursday, they choose to ratify it. “Our kids across the province could be back in school as early as Monday, which is a great relief, I know.”

Education Minister Peter Fassbender says shortly after he learned a tentative deal had been reached, he called BC Teachers’ Federation President Jim Iker.

“In negotiations there’s always give and take. Both parties have to willing to give and take. I thanked him for the willingness on the part of the BCTF negotiating team and the executive to do that. I said the key for me now is how do we move ahead and work together in partnership with parents and with other partners in the system to make our education system even better than what it is today.”

He says government will be looking at what classroom composition means for the future of BC’s education system.

“I have been very proud and humbled to be part of this government that does understand those issues and wants to chart a future for our kids, for now and generations to come, that is going to be built on a stable environment where we can really get the work done,” he adds.