BC teachers were in for no surprise when the controversial Bill 22 was adopted Friday in Victoria. But according to Andy Davidoff, speaking on behalf of the Kootenay Columbia Teachers' Union, the development was no less disconcerting even though it was expected, given the government's legislative majority.
"We were hoping that reason would prevail and they would amend provisions... take some of the more draconian measures out of it," said Davidoff. "But obviously they have an agenda and they're going to continue with it."Davidoff said he and his colleagues thought some "quite logical" amendments proposed by the opposition NDP may have have been considered.
He said these changes would have given greater flexibility to the yet-to-be-named mediator. But that was not to be the case.The Kootenay teachers spokesman wonders who in the mediator's fraternity would even want to take on such an assignment.
"We will have a mediator who is very limited," said Davidoff.These developments lead up to the BC Teachers' Federation AGM being held in Vancouver, an event Davidoff agrees will be quite intense. He's heading for the coast for the occasion this weekend."I'll be in Vancouver for four days," he concluded, "there will be an action plan developed. There will be a response to the government's legislation."