[MEDIA RELEASE] Green MLA Andrew Weaver calls for 50,000 signatures on education petition
For immediate release
Thurs. Sept. 11, 2014
VICTORIA, B.C. – A petition released by Green MLA Andrew Weaver on Monday afternoon, which calls on the BC government to accept binding arbitration with the B.C. Teachers’ Federation, has accumulated 25,000 signatures in three days. Weaver has now announced a goal of doubling those signatures to 50,000.
Join thousands in calling on the BC government to accept the BCTF's invitation to binding arbitration
On Saturday, September 6, Education Minister Peter Fassbender announced that the BC government was rejecting the BC Teachers' Federation's proposal to seek binding arbitration in order to bring the ongoing labour dispute to an end.
Binding arbitration is a time-tested means of ending labour disputes when face-to-face negotiations and mediation break down. That the government dismissed it suggests that they are not interested in reaching a fair settlement.
It is time to end this strike. It’s time to stop playing politics with our children, teachers, and parents. It’s time for Minister Fassbender and Premier Clark to do what is right, to do what is clearly in the public interest, and to agree to what is really the only fair solution to ending this strike: binding arbitration.
Green Party of BC MLA for Oak Bay-Gordon Head, Andrew Weaver, has started a petition calling on the BC government to accept the BCTF's invitation to binding arbitration. Will you add your name?
The response has been incredible: less that 20 hours after first launching the petition, it already had over 8000 signatures!
Will you add your voice, and invite your friends, family and neighbours to do the same? Together we are making a difference.
Andrew Weaver Welcomes BCTF call for Binding Arbitration
Victoria B.C. – Andrew Weaver, MLA for Oak Bay-Gordon Head and Deputy Leader of the BC Green Party welcomes the call today from the BC Teachers Federation for binding arbitration in the ongoing education dispute.
“It’s time to resolve this dispute and get our children back into the classroom,” says Andrew Weaver. “The signs are clear that mediation isn’t working; we need another way to bring the two sides together. Binding arbitration is a perfectly reasonable request. The government will look entirely unreasonable if they do not agree”.
Labour Day Greetings
Labour Day provides all British Columbians with an opportunity to reflect on and give thanks to workers in every field who make our province exceptional. We should remember this history of organized labour, unions and professional groups whose contributions to the fabric of our communities must not be underestimated or forgotten.
The rights every worker takes for granted today were only achieved after decades of activism, pressure and progressive policies from individuals and organizations committed to an equitable labour force. To those from the past, and those who continue this vital work, today is your day, and we salute you.
The B.C. Green Party is committed to ensuring the rights of all workers are not eroded: that everyone who contributes to our economy is treated with fairness, that worker safety is a priority and not an after-thought, and that everyone has opportunities.
B.C. Greens welcome government announcement of an independent investigation of Mt. Polley and tailings ponds.
The B.C. Green Party welcomes the B.C. Government’s announcement of a three-person panel charged with undertaking an independent investigation of the Mount Polley mine tailings pond dam failure that occurred two weeks ago today. The panel will investigate all aspects of the dam’s failure and will report back to government with recommendations by January 31, 2015. The investigation will be paid for by Imperial Metals.