1980sToday

@davemccr @jinnysims The unilateral increase in prep time, pay for extra duties, and top end of the grid combine to make a far more attractive deal than most provinces have; I wonder if this was done to entice Ontario teachers to move West.

@1980sToday @jinnysims Yeah, posted that yesterday. 12% in year one isn’t too bad.

I say this with kindness and respect @jinnysims, I’m not sure that teachers can afford the NDP… the burdens placed on BC Teachers are ridiculous. Teachers are quitting by the boat load and there is no hope in sight. The NDP have had a long while to solve this but didn’t #bcpoli

@SarahMiller1746 @TalkerTeacher @BCNDPCaucus At no time did I suggest that schools should not teach these skills - I was attempting to suggest that if the choice was between unfettered access to social media on personal devices or no personal devices, the latter was better. Of course digital literacy should be taught.

@1980sToday @TalkerTeacher @BCNDPCaucus In the 21st Century, digital literacy and being able to self-regulate when using tech IS a "foundational skill." If they aren't going to learn/develop it in school, then where? 🤔🤷‍♀️

Dear @BCNDPCaucus, There are unintended consequences to student phone ban. We share 15 computers between 18 teachers & no computer lab. You want inquiry learning? Research? Less paper usage? Give us the tools to do our jobs. $ for tech. #bced #bctf vancouver.citynews.ca/2024/01/26/bc-…

@TalkerTeacher @BCNDPCaucus True; mind you, perhaps this could serve as a basis for focusing more on foundational skills development? I would simply think that most educators would prefer phones to be banned in a meaningful way and to find a way around the challenges that presents.

@1980sToday @BCNDPCaucus Glib is a great word for it. There is zero chance we can satisfy open-ended competencies and inquiry at high school level without adequate tech in today’s educational world.

@TalkerTeacher @BCNDPCaucus The unintentionally-glib response would be, 'do without'; until an adequate solution in the form of govt-provided tech arrives, I imagine most (not all) classes can still work via texts, photocopies, pen and paper. I'm not sure that there is an alternative.

@1980sToday @BCNDPCaucus Absolutely all of this is valid. The issue is many districts, instead of providing the tech tools we need to do our jobs, have adopted an official “bring your own device” policy. So now what?

@yvrteacher @TalkerTeacher @bctf @Dave_Eby The BCTF is barely a union at this point - it is a political party; it has neither the drive nor the orientation to support a labour-first approach to the profession, but complains about shortcomings in it. The irony is both palpable and sad.

Our public education system is crumbling but yes, let’s struggle to find places to spend the money. “But as March 31 spending deadline nears, one thing is increasingly clear: There’s no way BC can spend all the remaining money in the time it has left.” @bctf @Dave_Eby #bced

@theLUCASTDS I continue to be surprised by the fact that one of the largest unions in B.C. does not actually 'do' much union work - their AGMs resemble political party conventions. Do they even have candidates that run on labour-first platforms?

I have so many thoughts on the BCTF Union meeting. I won’t be sharing any of them.

While most actors recite mindless political talking points and berate you for not agreeing, Tom Cruise just... thanks you for watching his movies. Its crazy, but it just might work.

@theLUCASTDS My view would be that the more authentically Christmas is celebrated, the better - that would extend to having a real tree (but again, just my take on it).

Personally I prefer artificial. Less mess. I don’t care about the “real tree smell.” I don’t like the hassle

Thirteen Days left until Christmas Eve Time for TWELVE DAYS OF RANDOM AND DIVISIVE CHRISTMAS QUESTIONS Day 2: Artificial Tree or real Tree?

@richardzussman The deals unions are signing are objectively poor - the salary or wage increases are all below inflation and don’t secure better supports or services for the public/students; for example, there are no new supports for students in the latest teacher deal.

The province is breezing through ratifications with massive support from members. The doctors deal the latest example. The only challenge was the BCGEU deal which included a strike and a close vote. #bcpoli

@nspector4 It's remarkable how much the love and appreciation of a well-designed, attractive, and engaging car to drive has simply vanished in the latest generation... though given that 'fun' cars back in the day were far more affordable, I suppose that (sadly) makes sense.

@theLUCASTDS @yvrteacher @krbisset @jheighton3 @DaisyTracy Fair enough - though I wouldn't say political is the term that comes to mind; many simply aren't that involved in their union and don't critically look at how their representatives handle matters - take a look at your next union meeting and notice just how few are present.

@1980sToday @yvrteacher @krbisset @jheighton3 @DaisyTracy I was a yes vote that doesn’t like the deal. I don’t assume yes meant people like the deal. I’m just pointing out that “no” voices seem vastly over represented online. Most teachers are not as political as the teachers on this app

@theLUCASTDS @yvrteacher @krbisset @jheighton3 @DaisyTracy Respectfully, referring to a few thousand of your colleagues as a 'non issue' isn't helpful - and 10,000 others didn't vote. One could easily suppose that the 'yes' was more a case that teachers just had no heart to draw this out - not that they actually LIKED the deal.

@yvrteacher @krbisset @jheighton3 @DaisyTracy Those who voted no are 6% of the voting number and statistically over represented on Twitter. It’s a non-issue.

@gbcyvr @yvrteacher @theLUCASTDS @jheighton3 Gov't did not believe (and they are correct) that teachers (as a collective) have much stomach for a fight, so they low-balled them knowing they'd sign (and they did). This is a union issue across B.C. - don't complain about your wages/conditions if you vote to perpetuate them.

@yvrteacher @theLUCASTDS @1980sToday @jheighton3 Every teacher I know who voted yes, did it begrudgingly. No one thought the deal was actually any good. But everyone is tired and just wants to get paid more for the BS we deal with daily, without the chance of a strike. #disappointing on all fronts.

@GoCanGoose @GreaseFriday @MissedRetweet @xmarylawrence @DaveFuck10 @richardzussman Honest question - what's fair about it? It is a pay-cut. It does nothing to improve your working conditions. To whom is this deal fair, other than the government and (to borrow the Right-wing strawman of choice) 'the taxpayers'?

@GreaseFriday @1980sToday @MissedRetweet @xmarylawrence @DaveFuck10 @richardzussman Teachers know more about bargaining and union contracts than most people unfortunately we have had to know them well over the years. Teachers saw a fair deal and voted for it. 94% is as decisive as it gets.

NEW - The new BCTF deal has passed with 94% in favour with 35,559 ballots returned. Voter turnout was around 67%. This is massive support for the new deal, as the BC Nurses Union now stands as the only major public sector without a new ratified deal. #bcpoli

@GreaseFriday @MissedRetweet @xmarylawrence @DaveFuck10 @richardzussman That's the issue - the #BCTF leadership went for a 'hard sell' on the contract; the deal agreed to is virtually indistinguishable from the 'unacceptable' one that was on the table mere weeks earlier. Teachers got what they asked for - a pay-cut and the same working conditions.

@1980sToday @MissedRetweet @xmarylawrence @DaveFuck10 @richardzussman I believe most did not understand that a "no" vote would be back to the table...teachers are not educated (ironically) with bargaining. The contact is not in practical terms. I bet the extra prep won some over.

@theLUCASTDS @jheighton3 @yvrteacher Sounds like you need to elect more labour-oriented leaders, and it is still true that a ‘no’ doesn’t equal ‘strike’ - if your leaders implied such, that was misleading. Encourage others to take a more active role in union affairs - perhaps next time things will be better.

@1980sToday @jheighton3 @yvrteacher You’re not factoring in a few things: 1) the leadership of this union has no fight in them. They won’t fight for covid safety. Why would I trust them to fight for more money!?! This is what we are getting. 2) precedent was set in public eye 3) we strike, we lose thousands

@DaveFuck10 @yvrteacher @Bubb67694586 @bctf As you teach math, then you also know you just signed up for a pay cut - the contract wage increase is lower than inflation both is currently and is projected to be - you’re therefore actually better off now than you will be in three years vis-a-vis how far your money will go.

@yvrteacher @Bubb67694586 @bctf I’ve already done the math. Source: I teach Math

After three days of voting, the membership of the BC Teachers’ Federation has voted to ratify the Memorandum of Agreement reached between the BCTF and the BC Public School Employers’ Association. The vote was 94% in favour with 35,559 ballots returned.

@paulgfinch @richardzussman The BCGEU signing a sub-inflation contract with very few working conditions improvements 'set the pattern' - the government is not going to deviate over-much from what already is in place for other unions. BC unions saw their pay degrade in this round vis-a-vis cost of living.

@richardzussman Community Social Services and Community Health are two massive BC broader public sectors without contracts.