My province’s teachers have lost a big battle. From the Vancouver Sun just now:
VANCOUVER – The provincial government has scored a major victory in court, with the appeal court Thursday overturning a judgment that would have restored class size and composition rules to the teachers’ contract.
However, the B.C. Teachers’ Federation has 60 days to try to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court of Canada, a move they are likely to make.
The BC Liberals listed the case as a “main risk” to their budget when it was presented in February.
A panel of five judges ruled to hold the government appeal of Justice Susan Griffin’s decision earlier this year to restore 2002 classroom composition rules, class size rules and specialist teacher ratios to the teachers’ contract.
The judges ruled that “the legislation was constitutional. Between the consultations and the collective bargaining leading up to the legislation, teachers were afforded a meaningful process in which to advance their collective aspirations. Their freedom of association was respected.”
