By Marissa Birnie British Columbia’s teachers’ union says its members have ratified a new four-year collective agreement, covering 52,000 educators in the province. The B.C. Teachers’ Federation said in a statement released Thursday that its members voted 91 per cent in favour of the agreement that gives them a three per cent wage increase in each of the four years. The union said the contract follows a year of negotiations where it raised priorities such as improved classroom conditions, stronger mental health supports for children and plans to recruit and retain teachers. BCTF president Carole Gordon said the agreement includes commitments to add counsellors, learning-assistance teachers and special education resource teachers in schools across the province. \u201cThis is a modest step forward, and our students deserve so much more. Our… <\/p>\n
By Marissa Birnie British Columbia’s teachers’ union says its members have ratified a new four-year collective agreement, covering 52,000 educators in the province. The B.C. Teachers’ Federation said in a statement released Thursday that its members voted 91 per cent in favour of the agreement that gives them a three per cent wage increase in each of the four years. The union said the contract follows a year of negotiations where it raised priorities such as improved classroom conditions, stronger mental health supports for children and plans to recruit and retain teachers. BCTF president Carole Gordon said the agreement includes commitments to add counsellors, learning-assistance teachers and special education resource teachers in schools across the province. \u201cThis is a modest step forward, and our students deserve so much more. Our... <\/p>\n