What have been cordial talks between teachers and the province have taken a turn with the President of the BC Teachers Federation saying teachers are now angry and frustrated.

“There is no deal to be reached with proposals that wipe out all of our class size and composition language.”

And that is exactly what the BC Public School Employers are proposing according to BCTF President Glen Hansman.

“What government and BCPSEA are proposing is to wipe out all of those protections that guarantee small groups and one on one support for kids in classrooms. Instead it just replaces it with a pot of money. That is the sort of thing that existed when George Abbott and Peter Fassbender were ministers of education with the BC Liberals. It is another example of where BCPSEA and the government are bargaining like it is 2014.”

Hansman for the first time is raising the possibility talks could punch into the next school year this September.

“If there isn’t a reasonable deal to be reached before the end of June then we will just have to spend some more time on that over the summer and into the fall.”

Hansman says the union also takes exception to Finance minister Carole James and Education minister Rob Fleming claiming they are asking for no concessions from teachers at the table.

“It is complete spin and gas lighting of our members to deny that there is concessions at the table. I am still hopeful we can get a deal before the end of June but not with these sorts of things sitting on the table.”

Bargaining began in February with both sides setting an end of June target of reaching a deal.

Sticking points are obviously class size and composition mandates, salary, but not term with both sides saying publicly they are hunting for a three year deal.