Jim Sinclair
Black Press
Andy Davidoff, president of the Kootenay Columbia Teachers Union says he and his colleagues are more hopeful now than they’ve been in a while regarding a potential settlement to their job action with the provincial government. Experienced mediation is the major reason for optimism.
“With Vince Ready (long-time mediator) being involved we’re more hopeful of a settlement that we were a week ago,” said Davidoff on August 19. “We continue to be frustrated that we don’t have a settlement yet and we really want a deal before school starts. We’re sincere about that and we think it’s in everyone’s best interests that that happens.”
Ready’s last involvement in the long-running series of teacher disputes was as an industrial inquiry commissioner in 2007. At that time he recommended a senior provincial official be involved in talks along with an independent mediator.
Terms and details of ongoing negotiations are under a media blackout, but Mr. Davidoff was happy to supply limited comments.
Attempts to reach Darrel Ganzert, chair of the Kootenay Columbia SD 20 Board, for a comment were unsuccessful as of press deadline.