Close X
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
ADVT 
National

Supreme Court Backs B.C. Teachers' Bargaining Rights In Long-Running Dispute

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 10 Nov, 2016 11:32 AM
    OTTAWA — British Columbia's unionized teachers have won a long-standing battle with the provincial government over the rights to bargain class sizes in a ruling today from the Supreme Court of Canada.
     
    Rich Overgaard of the B.C. Teachers' Federation says the court delivered a verbal decision in favour of the teachers after a hearing today at the Supreme Court in Ottawa.
     
    He says the judges voted 7-2 in favour of the union.
     
    The court confirms it allowed the appeal in a news release and says it will release a written judgment within 48 hours.
     
    Overgaard says the decision is "stunning."
     
     
    It overturns a B.C. Court of Appeal ruling that found the province did not violate teachers' rights to bargain class sizes and the number of special-needs children in each class in their contracts.
     
    The province first imposed legislation that removed teachers' ability to bargain class size and composition in 2002. After a B.C. Supreme Court judge deemed the law unconstitutional in 2011, the province imposed a new law the following year.
     
    Similar to the previous legislation, it restricted school boards' power to determine staffing levels and establish the size and composition of classes or how many teacher assistants can be hired per student in a school.
     
    The dispute led to an acrimonious strike in 2014.
     
    A B.C. Supreme Court judge ruled the legislation unconstitutional but the appeal court overturned that decision a year later. Four of five appeal court justices found the province consulted meaningfully with teachers and the legislation didn't violate the charter.
     
     
     
    A long-term contract has been signed between teachers and the government.
     
    Union president Glen Hansman told CHNL radio that they're elated by the ruling.
     
    "This has been 15 years in the making," he said.
     
    "They have said our appeal has been granted and that means our language is back. What that means operationally is something we are definitely going to have to talk about."

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Justin Trudeau Defends Minister Monsef Over Iranian-afghan Nationality Flap

    OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is defending his minister of democratic institutions in a flap over her country of birth.

    Justin Trudeau Defends Minister Monsef Over Iranian-afghan Nationality Flap

    Advocates Urge Liberal Government To Reduce Number Of Women In Prison

    Advocates Urge Liberal Government To Reduce Number Of Women In Prison
    The 31-year-old from Chilliwack, B.C., says she panics when she ventures out in public alone — traumatized from the effects of having been held periodically in a segregation cell, a place she calls a "cage not meant for a human."

    Advocates Urge Liberal Government To Reduce Number Of Women In Prison

    China-India In A New Face-Off After Incursion In Ladakh

    China-India In A New Face-Off After Incursion In Ladakh
    A stand-off was witnessed between Indian and Chinese forces along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), but the Indian Army on Thursday denied any "incursion" by the Chinese troops on Indian side.

    China-India In A New Face-Off After Incursion In Ladakh

    TSB Rules Fuel-flow Problem Likely Forced Pilot To Land On B.C. Highway

    RICHMOND, B.C. — An investigation has determined that trouble with the flow of fuel into the engine of a small plane likely forced the pilot to land on Highway 97 near Osoyoos, B.C., last year.

    TSB Rules Fuel-flow Problem Likely Forced Pilot To Land On B.C. Highway

    Britain's Theresa May Calls Up PM Modi Ahead Of Visit

    Britain's Theresa May Calls Up PM Modi Ahead Of Visit
    During the telephonic call, the two Prime Ministers exchanged Diwali greetings, the PMO said.

    Britain's Theresa May Calls Up PM Modi Ahead Of Visit

    Time To Get Out? B.C. Gang Exit Is Here

    Time To Get Out? B.C. Gang Exit Is Here
    The $500K investment to expand the BladeRunners and STEP programs is funded by the 2016-17 Employment Services and Supports (ESS) Rapid Response Fund, under the Canada-BC Job Fund. 

    Time To Get Out? B.C. Gang Exit Is Here