Summer Bargaining

Hoping that you are enjoying the summer break, and get the rest and relaxation we all
need. Our classrooms are very challenging, and we need to ensure that we have taken the
time to recharge our professional batteries, and to spend valuable time with loved ones.

Thanks to all of the executive members who have dedicated hours of voluntary work this school year to provide services to the members of the CVTA. We are so lucky that we have members willing to take on the challenging role this is. Many of them will be attending Summer Conference in Kamloops, and will return with ideas and information which will benefit us all.

You will be hearing and reading articles regarding both the BCTF and the BCCT this
summer; please take the time to email or phone with your reactions to the media
coverage. If it is not reflecting your concerns, speak out on behalf or our students and concerns. Contact the medium yourself – as a classroom teacher you are believed by the public and your voice speaks much more loudly than an organized event or response. Our working conditions are the learning conditions of our students, and we need to be
prepared to inform others of our concerns.

Of course, one of the issues worth consideration is the fact that despite our gains in salary since the last strike, we have fallen further and further behind. We have provided a link to a salary grid which shows just how far we have fallen.

Locally, bargaining has been an interesting experience – someone must have cursed us
with the proverb, “May you live in interesting times.” Again, the work of the Bargaining Team has been outstanding on your behalf and I must again thank members who work on the behalf of all. Thank you to Bill, Mike and Doug for all of the work you have done. A bulletin will be posted soon to the web which frames our work so far on your behalf. We are looking forward to more work in this area in the fall.

Finally, may your summer be peaceful and relaxing. May the mosquitoes be few, may the
sunshine feel unending, and may all of the days of summer be what you need.

(Originally Posted by Becky July 6, 2011)