bc gov: abbott on bill 22 (feb. 29, 2012)

STATEMENT For Immediate Release 2012EDUC0016-000213 Feb. 29, 2012 Ministry of Education Abbott on “fair and reasonable” Bill 22 VICTORIA – Minister of Education George Abbott today issued the following statement: “Yesterday I introduced Bill 22 - the Education Improvement Act, legislation designed to suspend the current job action by teachers, set a ‘cooling off ’ period, appoint a mediator to facilitate bargaining, and implement a new $165-million Learning Improvement Fund. “Most people are characterizing the bill as a ‘measured, thoughtful, balanced and constructive ’ approach to a dispute that has been going on for almost a year with little chance of a resolution. “If you look at the history of the relationship between the teachers’ union and the government in this province, you’ll soon realize that in almost 20 years of provincewide bargaining the BCTF has only successfully concluded one negotiated agreement. You will also realize that Bill 22 is a measured and appropriate response to the current situation. “I am disappointed by the initial comments coming from the teachers’ union. In the most frustrating example – the union has been asking for mediation. Now, they are rejecting the idea simply because the mediator is required to strike a g enuine balance in the discussions by looking at what both parties want so we can put the needs of students first. “It is simply inaccurate for the BCTF to claim that Bill 22 el iminates job security rights, professional autono my rights and rights to due process. In fact, the bill makes no changes to any of these matters. What it does do is simply get the parties back to the table with a mediator to deal with the issues at hand in a constructive and thoughtful way. “I am always concerned that the statements by the teachers’ union will get in the way of teachers receiving accurate and factu al information about the legislation. It is one of the reasons why I hosted a Twitter chat to talk to teachers about the new bill. I enjoyed the opportunity to communicate directly with many teachers via Twitter. “I hope the teachers’ union will drop the rhetoric and help us move forward. I’m hoping that cooler heads will prevail and that people will engage in the very meaningful mediation process that has been set out in this bill.

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Page 1: BC Gov: Abbott on Bill 22 (Feb. 29, 2012)

8/2/2019 BC Gov: Abbott on Bill 22 (Feb. 29, 2012)

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/bc-gov-abbott-on-bill-22-feb-29-2012 1/2

S TAT E M E N TFor Immediate Release2012EDUC0016-000213Feb. 29, 2012

Ministry of Education

Abbott on “fair and reasonable” Bill 22

VICTORIA – Minister of Education George Abbott today issued the following statement:

“Yesterday I introduced Bill 22 - the Education Improvement Act, legislation designed tosuspend the current job action by teachers, set a ‘cooling off ’ period, appoint a mediator tofacilitate bargaining, and implement a new $165-million Learning Improvement Fund.

“Most people are characterizing the bill as a ‘measured, thoughtful, balanced and constructive ’ approach to a dispute that has been going on for almost a year with little chance of aresolution.

“If you look at the history of the relationship between the teachers’ union and the governmentin this province, you’ll soon realize that in almost 20 years of provincewide bargaining the BCTFhas only successfully concluded one negotiated agreement. You will also realize that Bill 22 is ameasured and appropriate response to the current situation.

“I am disappointed by the initial comments coming from the teachers’ union. In the mostfrustrating example – the union has been asking for mediation. Now, they are rejecting the ideasimply because the mediator is required to strike a genuine balance in the discussions bylooking at what both parties want so we can put the needs of students first.

“It is simply inaccurate for the BCTF to claim that Bill 22 eliminates job security rights,professional autonomy rights and rights to due process. In fact, the bill makes no changes toany of these matters. What it does do is simply get the parties back to the table with a mediatorto deal with the issues at hand in a constructive and thoughtful way.

“I am always concerned that the statements by the teachers’ union will get in the way of

teachers receiving accurate and factual information about the legislation. It is one of thereasons why I hosted a Twitter chat to talk to teachers about the new bill. I enjoyed theopportunity to communicate directly with many teachers via Twitter.

“I hope the teachers’ union will drop the rhetoric and help us move forward. I’m hoping thatcooler heads will prevail and that people will engage in the very meaningful mediation processthat has been set out in this bill.

Page 2: BC Gov: Abbott on Bill 22 (Feb. 29, 2012)

8/2/2019 BC Gov: Abbott on Bill 22 (Feb. 29, 2012)

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/bc-gov-abbott-on-bill-22-feb-29-2012 2/2

“I also hope that, for the first time in a long time, we'll be able to get the kind of engagementthat produces an agreement among the adults in the room so that kids in the classroombenefit. ”

Contact: Ministry of EducationGovernment Communications and Public Engagement

250 356-5963 (Media Line)

Connect with the Province of B.C. at: www.gov.bc.ca/connect

http://www.gov.bc.ca/connect