Government negotiator seeks student safety agreement with teachers’ union

VICTORIA – The chief government negotiator in contract talks with British Columbia’s teachers’ union says student safety has already become an issue at the bargaining table.

Peter Cameron says he has concerns the initial strike action by teachers that involves refusal to perform outside class-time supervision duties could pose safety issues.

He says attempts to reach an agreement on student safety in the event of job action have been ignored by the BC Teachers’ Federation, which has gone to the Labour Relations Board for essential services designation.

BCTF President Jim Iker says the board is the proper place to work out student supervision and safety issues during strike action.

He says the labour board set safety and supervision guidelines during the last teacher dispute more than two years ago and he expects the issue to be worked out shortly.

Cameron says talks between the government and teachers are moving slowly with little progress.