Education Minister George Abbott said in a news teleconference Thursday he still "believes that having a thoughtful and constructive mediator is a route we have to go down.
"The mediator will be free and independent and will not be getting any advice on what to report."
Abbott added that the cash injection into the Learning Improvement Fund (LIF) can be used for a variety of things school districts see fit, such as extra teachers or educational assistants to help deal with a variety of student demands.
It has been acknowledged that the mediator being brought in cannot negotiate the teachers' wages and benefits demands beyond the government's "net zero wage mandate."
However, no one from the ministry could answer whether the mediator will have the ability to negotiate for funds beyond the teachers' wages and benefits demands.
Richmond-Steveston MLA John Yap said he was "disappointed," with the teachers' decision to strike.
Yap said now is the time to start thinking about the students and their parents. "We've got to think about the impact on the families. The vast majority of public sector unions have been able to agree with the net zero mandate."
In terms of what the mediator can or cannot achieve, Yap added, "We need to make sure students and families get the certainty they need. Also, union leaders have been asking for this mediator and we've agreed to that.
"I wouldn't want to prejudge the mediator or his or her job. They will have time to work through the issues."
He claimed the government has taken into account the teachers' concerns over burgeoning class sizes, saying that Bill-22 will cap class sizes at 30 for Grades 4-12 (Grades K-3 are already capped; 22 for K and 24 for 1, 2 and 3).
