The B.C. Teachers’ Federation says 91 per cent of its members are in favour of ratifying a new four-year collective agreement with the B.C. Public School Employers’ Association.
The agreement covers 52,000 teachers and educators, such as school psychologists who work across the province the kindergarten to Grade 12 public education system, according to a release from the teachers’ union Thursday (March 5). Voter turnout among the union members was 67 per cent.
The union said this follows nearly one year of negotiations. During those negotiations, improving classroom conditions, strengthening mental health supports for kids and securing fair wages to recruit and retain teachers were some of the key priorities.
The agreement includes:
• A general wage increase of three per cent per year for four years
• A wage bump at the lower end of the pay grid to attract new teachers to the professional and incentivize them to take contracts
• More counsellors, learning assistance teachers and special education resource teachers to give students the support they need to succeed
• Added prep time for elementary teachers
• Special allowance for psychologists and Indigenous language teachers, as well as increases for teachers in identified rural and remote schools
B.C. Teachers’ Federation president Carole Gordon said this agreement is proof of what’s possible when teachers fight for their students.
We pushed for improvements to learning conditions, and this agreement includes commitments to add counsellors, learning assistance teachers, and special education resource teachers in schools across the province,” Gordon said.
But she said it is a “modest step forward,” and students deserve so much more.
“Our classrooms are increasingly complex, and investment needs to keep up. We will continue to advocate for better classroom conditions and more time, resources, and support so that teachers can help every student achieve their full potential.”
The B.C. Public School Employers’ Association is still in the process of approving the ratification among its members.
The Finance Ministry says the province’s 60 school boards will vote on the agreement on Friday, March 6.
The current collective agreement remains in effect until both parties formally ratify the agreement. If fully ratified, the contract will be retroactive to July 1, 2025 and would remain in effect until June 30, 2029.