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Outgoing teachers’ federation president Glen Hansman says the employers’ proposal, which he describes as concessions, would “strip” away that language and have an adverse impact on teacher workload.

“We’re surprised and frustrated that a government that went in opposition and was very vocal in their support of teachers and their disdain for the previous government would pick this fight with us,” Hansman said.

Chell objects to the term “concessions,” writing that “BCPSEA’s proposals are not concessions and are intended to facilitate moving the public school system forward.”

Hansman acknowledges that the impact of the proposal would differ across the province, but says it would result in job losses in densely populated districts like Vancouver and Burnaby, where many B.C. NDP MLAs have seats in the legislature.

“It’s simply disingenuous to say we haven’t tabled concessions when in their (the MLAs’) own ridings, there would be (teacher) job losses,” he said.

Chell says the proposed changes are the result of a two-year consultation with senior staff and boards-of-education that found it “no longer fits in today’s classrooms.”

“BCPSEA is proposing an approach to move the public-school system forward to reflect the classrooms of 2020 and beyond, allowing resources to be used more effectively to both protect teacher workload and be more responsive to individual student needs,” wrote Chell. “All the new money that went into the system to address the restored language and hire more teachers will remain in the system.”

In a statement, Education Minister Rob Fleming wrote he was “pleased” that a mediator had been appointed and acknowledged “how important this negotiating process is for everyone.”

“We’re hopeful that a mediator will help the parties find solutions that work for students, parents, teachers and everyone in the school system,” he wrote.