Attempts to restart negotiations in the B.C. public school teachers' strike appear to be underway, but so far neither side has confirmed actual negotiations have resumed.
On Friday morning a spokesperson with the Education Ministry told CBC News that both sides have agreed to not speak publicly until there is something to report.
Yesterday B.C. Education Minister Peter Fassbender did confirm that the striking teachers' union and employers' association are talking with mediator Vince Ready, but only about if they might resume negotiations.
"I do know that Mr. Cameron and Mr. Iker and Mr. Ready are having discussions as we sit here," Fassbender told CBC News, referring to the government's chief negotiator, Peter Cameron, and B.C. Teachers' Federation president Jim Iker.
"The timing of when they're going to actually physically get together, I don't know that," said Fassbender.
Legislated settlement coming?
Meanwhile, there are more signs government plans to legislate the teachers back to work if a deal is not reached by Oct. 6 when the legislature resumes sitting.
On Thursday afternoon, Clark said she was still against a legislated end to the dispute, but hinted the government is prepared to use other means.
"My position on that hasn't changed, I want to get a negotiated agreement, I intend to get one," said Clark.
But the premier made it clear she expects teachers and students will be back in class by the time she leaves on a trade mission to India on Oct. 9.
"Well I'm very hopeful schools will be back, in fact, I'm certain schools will be back in session by the time I go to India"
Throughout the strike, the government has repeatedly said it won't legislate teachers back, but on Thursday morning Fassbender also appeared to soften that stance.
"We know we have to get kids in the classroom. We are going to take whatever action we have, the house is going to be sitting in October," Fassbender told CBC News on Thursday.
"My hope, and the premier's hope, and our government's hope is that we have a negotiated settlement long before we go back to Victoria."
Long history of legislated settlements
One former Liberal education minister says a legislated settlement is looking more and more likely.
The government and union have a long history of struggle over control of educational policy, with the union striking more than 50 times in the past 40 years and at least three settlements imposed by government.
But George Abbott, who was the minister during the last teachers' strike in 2012, says it would only be a short-term solution.
"First of all, they're probably limited to a one- to two-year return-to-work contract, an imposed contract," Abbott told CBC News.
"Secondly, an imposed contract is really an invitation for another year or two of a bad or deteriorating relationship. One sees a withdrawal of services over that period."
Other experts agree that the dispute appears to be headed toward a legislated settlement.
"It seems to me that we're inching towards them being legislated back," said political watcher Norman Ruff, University of Victoria professor emeritus.
"You could argue it's going to be a short-term necessity, but in the long run it just fuels the problem that has existed for decades."
But the public's chief concern isn't how, but when, the dispute concludes, and the government is now seen to hold the key to the deadlock, according to political science Prof. Hamish Telford, at the University of the Fraser Valley.
"The public looks at government and says, 'Well, you do have the ability to solve this, even if you don't want to pay what the teachers are asking, you can legislate. So it is within your power to do it," Telford said.
"The government may now be feeling a certain amount of pressure from the public that they've got to move on this."
The legislature is set to resume on Oct. 6, and although standard business is slated to occur, back-to-work legislation could be introduced and passed quite quickly by the majority B.C. Liberals, said the professors.
On Wednesday, the teachers' union members voted 99.4 per cent favour of a proposal to use binding arbitration to settle the dispute.
But Fassbender and other government representatives have made it clear that it was not an option they would consider at this time.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
BC teachers' strike: Both sides silent on restarting talks - CBC.ca
Dengan url
https://goartikelasik.blogspot.com/2014/09/bc-teachers-strike-both-sides-silent-on.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
BC teachers' strike: Both sides silent on restarting talks - CBC.ca
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
BC teachers' strike: Both sides silent on restarting talks - CBC.ca
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar