B.C. files appeal in teachers’ court case that awarded union $2 million

VANCOUVER – The B.C. government has filed an appeal of a court decision that concluded the province violated the bargaining rights of teachers.

A B.C. Supreme Court judge ruled last week that legislation removing class size and composition from bargaining was unconstitutional and awarded the B.C. Teachers’ Federation $2 million.

The judge also concluded the provincial government tried to provoke a teachers strike for political reasons.

The province has now filed a notice with the B.C. Court of Appeal, although the document doesn’t offer any details about what, specifically, the government plans to argue.

Education Minister Peter Fassbender has said the ruling could cost up to $1 billion and removes the province’s ability to govern, while he also denied there was a policy to provoke teachers.

The decision also allowed the B.C. Teachers’ Federation to release its closing submissions, which contain references to cabinet documents, but that issue is not addressed in the notice of appeal.