After two weeks on the line BC teachers are returning to work Monday after scoring a big win for education. Teachers paid a a big price to obtain what Gordon Campbell and Education Minister Bond said would never happen. No longer it appears can the Campbell government count on slamming unjust legislation through the house and expect it to be respected.
The Liberals had some two years to resolve what took just two weeks to settle. They choose confrontation versus discussion. Come April 2006, the BC Liberals could find themselves in heap more trouble with the other public sector workers. Legislating workers back to work won't work so easily.
Now we wait to see if Gordon Campbell and the BC Liberals will live up to their commitment to honour and implement the Ready Recommendations. They don't have a good record on following through.
David Schreck has compiled this list of the Liberals appalling record.
On August 1, 2001, Bill 13 (Greater Vancouver Transit Services Settlement Act) ended the dispute with Coast Mountain Bus Company Ltd. by ordering a return to work and by appointing a special mediator to determine terms of the contract, the traditional way legislatures intervene in disputes.
On August 9, 2001, Bill 15 (Health Care Services Collective Agreement Act) imposed a "contract" on nurses even though the only job action they took was the withdrawal of overtime; the Bill also imposed the employers' last offer on paramedical professionals.
On January 27, 2002, Bill 27 (Education Services Collective Agreement Act) passed third reading imposing an "agreement" on the teachers with a term expiring June 30, 2004.
On January 27, 2002, Bill 28 (Public Education and Choice Act) passed third reading stripping the teachers agreement of provisions that dealt with learning and working conditions.
On January 27, 2002, Bill 29 (Health and Social Services Delivery Improvement Act) passed third reading stripping collective agreements with health and social service unions.
On March 7, 2002, Bill 9 (Medical Services Arbitration Act) passed third reading canceling the arbitration between the government and the BCMA.
On March 31, 2003, Bill 28 (Forestry Revitalization Act) passed third reading reducing timber licenses by 20% while setting the terms of compensation and eliminating the right for legal action for additional compensation.
On April 22, 2004, Bill 19 (Education Services Collective Agreement Amendment Act, 2004) passed third reading overturning a court decision with respect to interpretation of the Public Education and Choice Act.
On March 3, 2005, Bill 21 (Crown Counsel Agreement Continuation Act) passed third reading overturning an arbitration with Crown Counsel and extending their contract until March 31, 2007.
On October 7, 2005, Bill 12 (Teachers' Collective Agreement Act) passed third reading extending the previously imposed and stripped contract with teachers to June 30, 2006. That produced the longest teachers' strike in BC history, courtesy of the government that promised to make education an essential service, and set the stage for the beginning of a major round of public sector bargaining.
See David's full article here.
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