Not re-hiring pregnant teachers could be discriminatory

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VICTORIA (NEWS1130) – Some see a proposal from the Greater Victoria School District as a way to avoid classroom disruption; others see it as pure discrimination against women.

If passed, the move would allow the district to not renew the temporary contracts of pregnant teachers if the pregnancy takes them out of the classroom for more than six months.

It would be a serious blow to seeking full time or continuing contracts.

It can take up to 10 years for teachers on temporary contracts to gain continuing status but that drive to seniority could be interrupted by pregnancy.

Catherine Alpha is a trustee with the district as well as a teacher in nearby Sooke, and says it amounts to discrimination.

“We are not allowed to discriminate based on gender and that’s exactly what we’re doing,” she says.

Alpha says she was in disbelief when she first heard of the potential move.

“The knee-jerk reaction is discriminate against pregnant women. I mean that can’t be. We’re passed that, it’s 50 years later.”

She says actual classroom disruption is minimal and that the move boils down to money as teachers won’t have their pensions and Employment Insurance benefits topped up while on maternity leave.

Alpha says the examples being put forth by the District of classes having up to five teachers in a year are overblown and uncommon.

“This actually is a fairly small problem,” she says.

Alpha added that if passed, she doesn’t think it will lead to a teacher shortage.

She says finding another solution would be easy and that she’s in disbelief over the proposal.

The district has yet to vote on the proposal.

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