Horgan tries to quell teacher concerns as contract talks continue
Posted June 6, 2019 3:42 pm.
Last Updated June 6, 2019 3:43 pm.
VICTORIA (NEWS 1130) – As teachers and the province continue work on negotiating a new contract, BC’s premier keeping says he’s confident a deal everyone’s happy with will be the end result.
Speaking from France where he’s attending D-Day commemoration ceremonies, John Horgan says his government is not seeking to undo the hard fought wins of the 2016 Supreme Court ruling on class size and composition.
Back to talks with teachers – @jjhorgan says what the province is offering with class size and composition is not in any way meant to diminish SCOC win two years ago but ensure they system is modernized going forward and is optimistic for agreement #bcpoli #bced @bctf
— LizaYuzda (@LizaYuzda) June 6, 2019
“Let me be clear — we did not set out to be provocative here,” he says. “We set out to try to find a way forward that met the needs of everybody without appearing to be a diminishment or a concession.”
Horgan says class size and composition are key to everyone at the table, and the province’s focus is on “modernizing”, not meddling.
“I’m confident that class size and composition are critically important to the government, as they are to the Teachers’ Federation, as they are to school boards and families,” he adds.
The current collective agreement between the province and the BC Teacher’s Federation expires June 30th.
