This letter concerns the ongoing labour dispute between the B.C. government and the BCTF.
I have been watching this situation with increasing concern over the past three months and have arrived at an unfortunate and disturbing conclusion: Christy Clark's B.C. Liberals are bullies. They do not practice what they preach. Let me explain.
This government is very clearly in favour of the anti-bullying campaigns that the education systems and indeed, workplace environments, have been advocating. It is appalling to see individuals misuse power and threaten those they perceive as weaker than themselves. A great deal of effort goes towards teaching children to establish respectful relationships built on active listening, respect and problem solving. The use of physical, verbal and emotional threats; the use of bribery and distorted half truths in order to achieve 'top-dog' status is decried. This government and British Columbians generally advocate a 'zero-tolerance' position when it comes to this kind of behaviour.
Unfortunately, this party's actions aimed at the teachers demonstrate that the B.C. Liberals like bullying and use it at every opportunity to get their way. You are not only bullying teachers but also the children and parents of this province. Your 2002 legislation that stripped class size and composition from the collective agreement with the BCTF was bullying. The courts confirmed this - twice now. In a manner characteristic of the true bully, Christy Clark's reaction was to seek revenge. That is what this labour dispute is all about - this party's desire to seek revenge for being proven wrong by the courts of the province.
Clark's Liberals hate to lose, and refuse to admit they were wrong. Rather than being humble and respectful; rather than negotiating in good faith to try to reach some compromise around the issues, the B.C. Liberals decided to 'beat up' the people who proved them wrong. The B.C. Liberals are acting like under-socialized children who resort to temper tantrums when they can't have their way. Your party hides behind your blind adherence to the strident ideology of Neo-Liberalism to justify your actions. Fanatic believers in any ideology are blind to the harm they do to those around them.
To MLA Mike Morris, please let level heads prevail. Advocate for compromise. Advocate for respectful negotiations. Help your party open its eyes and see the destructiveness of its actions. Above all, advocate for your government to adopt an anti-bullying attitude in its dealings with the teachers and the people of British Columbia.
Bruce Northey
Prince George
