Union jumpstarts marathon bargaining session with new B.C. teachers’ proposal

VANCOUVER – The B.C.’s teachers’ union presented a new contract proposal to the employer on Friday, kicking off what was expected to be three days of intense negotiations before Tuesday’s planned strike.

The package was expected to include a lowered wage demand and other concessions, but no details were made public as both sides push to prevent the provincewide strike.

Premier Christy Clark says she didn’t want to get her hopes up too high, but still believes a settlement can be reached at the table — possibly during this coming weekend.

Clark’s comments come shortly after she sent a revised education mandate letter to Education Minister Peter Fassbender instructing him to present cabinet options for ways to restructure collective bargaining with the teachers’ union once a deal is reached.

She also urged the minister to implement previously committed tax credits for teachers who participate in extra-curricular activities and parents for back-to-school costs.

A special meeting of the Vancouver Board of Education approved a motion Friday urging the premier to meet personally with the BC Teachers’ Federation, introduce a mediator into negotiations and supply a new mandate to the government agent to bargain class size and composition.