B.C. defends revision of bargaining process with teachers, 10-year-deal

VANCOUVER – B.C.’s education minister denies accusations by the teachers’ union that the government interfered with its bargaining process by appointing a single negotiator to serve as its lead on contract talks.

Peter Fassbender says the government is simply adhering to a request made last year by the BC Teachers’ Federation for the opportunity to bargain directly with the provincial government.

The BCTF says it withdrew the request after negotiating a new bargaining framework earlier this year, and teachers are disappointed that the government suspended what they say was the first constructive round of bargaining in years.

Two weeks ago, Fassbender revoked the mandate of the employer representative and replaced it with negotiator Peter Cameron, who has been tasked with securing a 10-year-deal with teachers.

Fassbender insists bargaining needed to be paused so that a framework on how to achieve long-term stability in classrooms can be set up.

The teachers’ contract expired last weekend.