A government fact-finder has determined it is very unlikely a negotiated settlement is possible in the labour dispute between teachers and the B.C. Public School Employers Association.
As a result, the government will take steps to legislate terms of a settlement.
Education Minister George Abbott received a report from Trevor Hughes, assistant deputy minister of industrial relations, who found the two sides are too far apart at the bargaining table to expect a negotiated collective agreement within a reasonable time frame.
"I find that disappointing for a couple of reasons," said Abbott, speaking in a conference call from Victoria. "The history of the last 30 years in collective bargaining between the two parties has been characterized by legislated solutions. Only in 2006 did we see a successful agreement concluded and it is obvious in this case that is not going to occur.
"I'm also disappointed personally in that I had hoped to build a better relationship with the B.C. Teachers Federation and turn a corner in terms of the longstanding issues between government and the TF but that has not been possible."
Abbott said there's been very little progress after one year of bargaining and 78 face-to-face sessions and sees legislation as the only way to settle a contract and end the current teachers' job action.
"The parties remain as far apart today as they were one year ago and I'm not prepared to see this go on much longer, so I've asked my staff to look at preparation of a bill or bills which would give effect to a resolution of this dispute," Abbott said.
"When the adults can't reach a respectful agreement on these things, it is always the students who pay the price."
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