Recommendation 36 (Support)
That the Executive Committee recommend to the Annual General Meeting:
That for the 2020–21 membership year, the fee for those who are members under By-law 1.1(a) shall be 28 1.79% of the actual salary of the member, allocated as follows:
• 1.319% to the General Operating Fund
• 0.320% to the Collective Bargaining Defence Fund
• 0.074% to the Public Education Defence Fund
• 0.050% to the Provincial Bargaining Fund
• 0.027% to the W.R. Long International Solidarity Fund
• 0.000% to the Contingency Fund.
Except that the fee for active members who are teachers teaching on call shall be 1.690%.
We are not in a position to lower fees yet. To maintain our programs and supports this is the need fee. If we want a lower fee, then there needs to be a motion to examine our expenses and consider what cuts would effect how much of a reduction.
The fee is status quo other than increasing the TTOC portion. This has been contentious over several years. TTOC's receive the same benefits as all members. I understand newer teachers making low wages. TTOC's are making much better wages in comparison from when I started as TTOC. It was a struggle as I had to work 6 days in the same assignment to get full pay for a day.
I am not advocating that just because it was hard for me, it should be hard for new TTOC's. I recognize there are many members working part time which is equivalent to working as a TTOC with a lower salary. The part timers pay full dues with the same benefits. As it is a 0.1% increase, this is an increase of $1 on every 1000 earned
Recommendation 37 (Support)
That for the 2020–21 membership year, the fee for affiliate administrative membership under By-law 1.6, exclusive of the Salary Indemnity Plan, be $100.
Status Quo
Recommendation 38 (Support)
That for the 2020–21 membership year, the fee for those who are members under By-law 1.2 (associate membership), shall be $100, except that the fee for associate members who are uncertified teachers’ replacements shall be 1.790% of the actual salary of the member, and except that the fee for associate members who are students enrolled in programs of study in university/college programs leading to certification as teachers shall be $1.
Status Quo
Recommendation 39 (Support)
That for the 2020–21 membership year, a member who is on leave of absence either without pay or on deferred salary leave, remains an active member, without payment of fees.
Status Quo
Recommendation 40 (Support)
That for the 2020–21 membership year, the fee for those who are members under By-law 1.6 (affiliate membership) shall be an amount negotiated between the BCTF and the affiliate, on a fee-for-service basis.
Status Quo
Recommendation 41 (Support)
That for the 2020–21 membership year, the fee for active membership for those who are members under By-law 1.1(b) shall be the same as the fee for active members under By-law 1.1(a), provided that the Representative Assembly may, in establishing policy regarding the eligibility of such members, waive or modify the fees.
Status Quo
Recommendation 42 (Support)
That the BCTF appoint the audit firm KPMG as its auditor for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020. Supporting statement The Executive Committee continues to be very satisfied with the audit services provided by KPMG and continues to believe that KPMG is best suited to meet BCTF’s financial reporting needs. A comprehensive review of the auditor was recently completed in fiscal 2018–19.
Status Quo
Recommendation 43 (Support)
That $4 million be transferred from the General Operating Fund to the Public Education Defence Fund.
Bargaining is taking longer than expected. We need to have the funds to keep up the fight through campaigns
Recommendation 44 (Support)
That Procedure 10.L.02 be amended as follows: That the purpose of the collective bargaining defence fund is to pay costs directly related to strikes, lockouts and the honouring of picket lines in third-party disputes and contract enforcement in accordance with policies and procedures approved by the Representative Assembly.
Updating / Clarifying
Resolution137. (Uncertain)
That the Federation provide a grant for locals to hold grievance committee meetings for up to six days per school year.
I have been on our local grievance committee for a number of years. When we have met, it has usually been after school. I am in support of meeting during the day. I am concerned about the BCTF paying for local grievance committee work. There are some locals that have a high number of grievances. There are some locals with no released grievance officers and this work falls only to the president and the committee. I am not sure if this is a governance issue of locals needing to fund more local released officers to do the work, or an equity issue of smaller locals with disproportionate numbers of grievances need additional support.
I want to better understand the problem this would solve, who should pay for that solution, and if it makes a difference when the grievance is over local language, local language that is now provincial, or provincial language.
The alternative that I don't like, but is often used is amending to say 'investigate providing a grant.' I don't like this solution in general because it leaves the leadership up to either the finance committee or executive to decide, or just delay making a decision for an extended period of time. The advantage of an investigation is that it wouldn't be voted against because we don't really know that it is asking for or what other priority wouldn't be funded to make this happen.
Resolution 138. (Support)
That the Federation include a room gratuity when paying for hotel rooms during Federation events.
Tipping and Gratuities are complex in terms of personal beliefs and standards. Secondly, one of our beliefs is that members are not out of pocket to do BCTF business. If one member left a $50 gratuity and another didn't, then one member is out of pocket $50. It is also more equitable to the staff to have it taken care of within the overall budget.
Resolution 139 (Support)
That the Federation double the political action/public relations grant for locals engaged in building positive relationships with parents, parent groups, and community groups.
Not all locals use their full grant so this would not result in a full doubling of the budget. An alternative would be that locals can apply for an increase to their grant by 100% until the budget line is exhausted.
Resolution 140 (Support)
That the Federation provide full daycare services as at the AGM, during the Summer Conference to include children five years and under.
I know there are challenges with regulations relating to providing childcare services. As a parent it was challenging to be fully involved when you knew you had to run to get your children for meals and hope to check them back in before sessions started. We may need to examine how we can adapt to make supporting parents of young children more effective.
Resolution 141 (Support)
That Procedure 10.J.74 be amended to increase the Union Mentorship Grant from $3,500 to $5,000.
A nominal increase that will make measurable impacts to locals.
Resolution142. (Support)
That Procedure 10.L.04-1. be amended to read: That as an objective the BCTF achieve a balance in the Collective Bargaining Defence Fund of $80 million.
I think this is a good move; however, if Resolution 144 passes, I think we should actually have a higher target. We need to not have fear of not enough to pay basic bills during a strike be so problematic.
Resolution143. (Likely Not-Support)
That the Federation reimburse members who walk to Federation events, the identical kilometric rate offered by the Federation to members who use their bicycles.
I understand the concept. There are many ways that members are not treated equal. A member with an electric car is paid the same mileage as a member in the north that needs a larger vehicle to be safe on winter roads. Members who bus may also have walking portions of their commute. Every member wears shoes and that would be the only consumable or additional expense to members walking. I don't see a way to make this work using the mileage concept.
A bigger concern is that paying a member without them having expenses would trigger tax implications. An alternative solution may be for any member who extensively walks on BCTF business be able to submit $75 annually for a shoe expense. This is also not ideal but would not trigger tax implications.
Resolution 144. (Support)
That Procedure 10.L.12-1.a., b., c.o and f. be amended by replacing $50 per day with $100 per day.
Nobody wants to be on strike. Being on strike a full month at $50 is only $1000. This would not cover my mortgage payment and I have a relatively small mortgage after being in the market 25 years. This would also not cover rent for most members.
20 days at $100 per day would provide peace of mind to many more members that at least most of the biggest monthly expense would be covered.
I would be concerned if this was to pass without Resolution 142 also passing as our strike fund would deplete too quickly and government wouldn't yet have felt the real pressure of a full strike.
Resolution 145. (Support)
That the fifth BCTF Staff Union Rep Training' currently available every second year to fund the New Teachers' SURT, be funded for locals every year.
I like the idea. I know that my local would uses the SURT days. We would likely use it every year having at least 30 to 100 new members every year. My cautionary note is that locals that don't use it already would still not have their members served by the SURT.
Resolution 146. (Support)
That the BCTF create a policy, in partnership with hotels, to ensure that deposits are waived' when requested by members carrying out BCTF work
I don't think having a credit card or enough cash accessible on a debit card should be a barrier. I do understand that the point of the deposit is to cover expenses charged to the room or damage. If we pay the deposit as the BCTF, it does create a possible liability; however, I think it better to trust our members.
