I think the government" strategy" of refusing to bargain in good faith with the BCTF has already backfired to the point that the Liberal government may have found a way to fritter away an easy majority government at the next election.
In June it was obvious to all in the province that the importance of ending the school year with an agreement in place was not a priority. In most disputes there is economic pressure on both parties. Normally the union member wants more money and the employer decides whether he is willing to share his profits to the extent requested. In this case it appears that our government is bartering with our votes. I am a senior citizen who has paid school taxes for many years without a child in school yet I am not getting any of my "school" taxes rebated while there is no public school in session .
Yet our government has decided to pay $40/ day babysitting for each child under 13. This is an ill- thought- out scheme that is a huge miscalculation. There are so many holes in such a silly measure it is beyond contempt. People want their kids to be learning right now. Most who receive the monetary relief right now will not be fooled. Those who are actually fooled are not going to bother to vote.
The effort shown from our government at the "Labour Day weekend" negotiations was such a pathetic veil of contempt it disgusts me. Our premier appears to have found that burying her head in the warm beach sands of Okanagan Lake in her new riding that we old folks will forget the mess she made of negotiations the last time she was involved. Christy's son is in class in private school today; was your child so lucky? It is time to get serious. Or here is one vote looking for a new home.
David Young
Prince George
