Let's say the B.C. government suddenly found itself with $500 million to spend on something. Where should the money go?
I suspect a good starting point would be clearing up any waiting list for services from Community Living B.C., which helps adults with developmental disabilities. The government has already increased funding here, but perhaps a few more million dollars is required.
How about income assistance? NDP MLA Jagrup Brar has spent a month drawing attention to the fact that it's nearly impossible to survive on the monthly assistance rate.
Then there's the court system. Judges are demanding more resources, and are staying cases at an increasing rate because the system isn't funded adequately enough to see those cases through the process in a timely fashion.
More areas to spend those tax dollars: tackling homelessness, reducing healthcare wait lists, lowering university tuition levels, or perhaps cutting medical service premiums.
But wait! Why not just give all $500 million to the province's teachers in the form of a salary increase and benefit hikes?
That is precisely what the B.C. Teachers' Federation (BCTF) is proposing. If the cash-strapped government has any extra money, it should go directly into teachers' wallets, is the BCTF's train of thought.
The teachers' union has tabled a contract proposal asking for a 16 per cent salary increase over three years.
According to the BCTF, the proposal would cost taxpayers $305 million in the first year. The employer (B.C. Public Schools Employers' Association) pegs the true cost at $498 million.
Does the BCTF really think teachers' pay packets should be the top priority for adding costs to the government's budget, ahead of other areas of government spending that need addressing?
Although they get two months off in the summer (plus another few weeks at Christmas and spring break), many work long hours each day (often at nights at home) doing what it takes to deliver a quality education for their students.
But I'm amazed at their inability to see how they fit into a much bigger picture. To them, everything is about education.
As a result of this lofty view, the BCTF is chronically unable to articulate a realistic contract proposal. "We're teachers, we're unassailable, and we're entitled to pretty well anything we ask for," is the mantra.
An example of the union's tin ear when it comes to negotiations is its insistence that comparisons to teachers' salaries in other provinces are the starting point for talks. This doesn't happen in any other labour negotiations, unless there is a significant shortage of the profession in question.
But there is no shortage of teachers in this province. In fact, there are young teachers who can't get fulltime work.
It's interesting to note that current BCTF president Susan Lambert's leadership is being challenged by another teacher, who is said to represent a more conservative wing of the union.
I have no idea whether the leadership challenge is a serious one or not, and I'm not sure a change in leadership would alter the BCTF's strategy in negotiations.
I suppose a successful negotiation for a new contract is still theoretically possible, but not when numbers like 16 per cent and $500 million are being thrown around.
The more realistic numbers are something like this: zero. Zero and maybe three per cent in the third year. Because I can pretty well guarantee that if $500 million suddenly materializes in government coffers, it won't be going directly to the BCTF.
Keith Baldrey is chief political reporter for Global BC.
