BCTF will try to appeal court ruling on bargaining right

BCTF president Jim Iker says the teachers' union will seek leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada, following today's ruling by the B.C. Court of Appeal.

The court ruled the B.C. government did not violate teachers' constitutional rightswhen it introduced Bill 22 in 2012legislation that temporarilylimited teacherbargaining on class size and composition.

• Read more about the B.C. Court of Appeal ruling
• Premier Christy Clark 'very pleased' with ruling

Ikersays Thrusday's ruling swings the power too far against workers' rights.

"We fundamentally disagree with the decision which focuses on pre-legislative consultation by government," BCTF president Jim Iker said in a news conference following the ruling.

Four of five appeal court justices agreed the government acted in good faith when it consulted with teachers before making the decision to strip their ability to negotiate limits on class sizes, teacher librarians and special needs student ratios, along with other elements.

"This decision gives more power to government to undermine collective agreements and workers' rights," he said.

"A government should not be able to just dictate what they want, simply talk to the union and force it by legislation, when there are collective agreementsin place. Collective bargaining needs to be about give and take,about respect and hard negotiations between employers and employees."

The teachers' federation says it will try andtake thefight to the Supreme court of Canada. However, an appeal to the nation's highest court isn't automatic. The Supreme Courtwould have to decide whether the case is in the national interest andgrant the union leave to appeal.