2017 2018 Members Guide to the BCTF Strong union, caring schools: a place for everyone
Members Guide to the BC Teachers Federation The Guide consists of five parts: PART 1 PART 2 PART 3 PART 4 PART 5 BCTF Priorities, Services, and Organization The constitution and by-laws of the organization. A compilation of the BCTF s policies and procedures, in the form of motions passed from 1953 to June 2017 by the Annual General Meeting and by meetings of the Representative Assembly, the Executive Committee and the former (until 1965) Consultative Committee. Information about the Federation, covering such topics as the teachers pension plan and BCTF history. BCTF Simplified Rules of Order and RA and AGM Rules of Order. 2017 18
Goals of the BCTF 1. To help ensure that public schools provide for the continued intellectual, physical, social, and emotional growth and development of each individual. 2. To promote the establishment and continued development in every school of sound learning and teaching conditions, including the provision of adequate support services. 3. To work toward the integration of social and educational services that contribute to the welfare and development of students. 4. To encourage full public participation in determining the overall objectives of education at the provincial, district, and school level. 5. To create public awareness of problems in society that hinder student growth and development and to stimulate the search for solutions. 6. To strive to eliminate from the school system discrimination on the basis of sex, race, religion, age, handicaps, economic status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, number of dependents, or pregnancy. 7. To promote professional growth of teachers through the continuous development of preservice, internship, and in-service education. 8. To establish a code of ethics and professional conduct, criteria of qualification, and criteria and procedures for the assessment of professional competence, and to ensure that teachers are effectively subject to the judgment of their peers in these matters, with guarantee of due process. 9. To ensure, through the development of democratic processes, professional autonomy for teachers and protection from capricious or malicious action, unjust regulations, and the abuse of authority. 10. To maintain for teachers a level of status and economic standing appropriate to the responsibility of the profession. 11. To work co-operatively with other groups and agencies to transform the public schools to make them more relevant and effective in preparing students for their futures. 12. To promote a working and learning environment in the public schools of British Columbia that is free from violence. 13. To support the right of all students, regardless of age, to free basic education as defined by the current K 12 programs. 14. To promote the well-being of members through working conditions that nurture ongoing health and vitality. Policy 11.01
PART 3 POLICIES AND PROCEDURES Table of Contents Section Page 1. Aboriginal Education............................................. 20 2. Annual General Meeting........................................... 23 3. Bargaining...................................................... 25 4. Boards of School Trustees, School Districts, and BC School Trustees Association.................. 36 5. CLC/BC Federation of Labour.................................... 37 6. Canadian Teachers Federation................................... 39 7. Certification and Teachers Council................................... 40 8. Education Finance............................................... 41 9. Education Policy................................................. 43 10. Finance........................................................ 61 11. Goals of the BCTF................................................ 75 12. Health and Welfare of Students..................................... 75 13. Health, Welfare, and Safety of Teachers............................... 77 14. Independent Schools............................................. 92 15. Induction Ceremonies, Awards...................................... 93 16. International Solidarity............................................ 94 17. Labour Affairs................................................... 94 18. Leaves of Absence............................................... 95 19. Legal Services/Contract Enforcement................................ 95 20. Membership.................................................... 97 21. Ministry of Children and Family Development.......................... 101 22. Ministry of Education............................................. 101 25. Organization of the BCTF......................................... 102 26. Pensions...................................................... 117 27. Political Action.................................................. 119 28. Post-Secondary Education........................................ 121 29. Privatization and Commercialization................................. 121 30. Professional Development........................................ 124 31. Professional Ethics, Rights, and Standards............................ 127 32. Professional Relations............................................ 131 33. Provincial Specialist Associations................................... 132 34. Public Affairs................................................... 137 i
Section Page 35. Public Relations................................................. 140 36. Publications of the BCTF.......................................... 141 37. Research...................................................... 142 38. Retired Teachers................................................ 142 39. School Buildings, Grounds, and Facilities............................. 142 40. Sexual Harassment/Harassment General............................ 144 41. Social Justice................................................... 144 42. Social Responsibility............................................. 149 44. Strike/Lockouts................................................. 151 45. Supervision and Reporting on Members.............................. 152 46. Teacher Competence............................................ 153 47. Teacher Education.............................................. 153 48. Teacher Exchange.............................................. 155 49. Teachers Teaching on Call........................................ 156 50. Teacher Tenure................................................. 157 51. Technology.................................................... 158 52. Unemployed/Underemployed Teachers.............................. 160 53. Violence Prevention.............................................. 160 ii
PART 1 BCTF Priorities, Services, and Organization Priority for 2017 18 (as set by the 2017 Annual General Meeting) That the following be the 2017 18 Leadership Priority: The universal right to education is affirmed in international law and is a value held passionately by teachers worldwide. For that right to be upheld in children s lives, they must have access to fully funded quality public schools which are the heart of every community. Strong and caring relationships between teachers and students are essential for learning, and for fostering an engaged citizenry in a socially just democracy. 1. To help create the conditions for those relationships to thrive, the Federation will engage and support members in: a. furthering equity and inclusion within our union, schools, and communities. b. developing and fostering a deeper understanding of Aboriginal ways of knowing, history, and culture. c. achieving significantly increased funding for public education. d. securing appropriate resources and time to implement changes in curriculum, assessment, reporting, and teacher mentoring. e. ensuring that the restored collective agreement language is respected and fully funded. 2. Preparing for the 2019 round of bargaining by identifying improvements in our collective agreement. (17 AGM, p. 7) Priorité pour 2017 18 (adoptées à l Assemblée générale annuelle de 2017) Que la priorité de leadership 2017-18 soit telle qu énoncée ci-après: Le droit universel à l'éducation est affirmé dans le droit international et il est une valeur soutenue avec passion par les enseignants du monde entier. Pour maintenir ce droit dans la vie des enfants, ils doivent avoir accès à des écoles publiques de qualité financées de manière adéquate, qui sont le cœur de chaque communauté. Des relations solides et bienveillantes entre enseignants et élèves sont essentielles pour l'apprentissage et pour favoriser une citoyenneté engagée dans une démocratie socialement juste. 1. Pour aider à créer les conditions pour que ces relations prospèrent, la Fédération va impliquer et soutenir les membres pour: a. Favoriser l'équité et l'inclusion au sein de notre syndicat, de nos écoles et de nos communautés. b. Développer et favoriser une compréhension plus approfondie des modes d apprentissage, de l histoire et de la culture autochtones. c. Obtenir un financement considérablement accru pour l'éducation publique. d. Assurer les ressources appropriées et le temps nécessaire pour mettre en œuvre des changements dans le curriculum, l'évaluation, les systèmes de bulletins et le mentorat des enseignants. e. Veiller à ce que le langage restauré de la convention collective soit respecté et entièrement financé. 2. Préparer la ronde de négociations de 2019 en identifiant les améliorations à apporter à notre convention collective. Objectifs de la FECB 1. Par son concours assurer dans les écoles publiques un milieu suscitant chez tous une croissance continue sur les plans intellectuels, physiques, sociaux et affectifs et favorisant le développement de chaque élève. 2. Encourager l implantation et le perfectionnement continu dans chaque école de conditions propices d apprentissage et d enseignement, y compris la mise en place de services de soutien adéquats. 3. Travailler à l intégration des services socio-éducatifs qui contribuent au bien-être et au développement des enfants. 4. Encourager une massive participation générale lors de la détermination des objectifs généraux d enseignement aux divers paliers : province, conseil scolaire et école. 5. Sensibiliser le public aux problèmes sociaux qui constituent un handicap à la croissance et au développement des élèves et stimuler la recherche de solutions. 6. S efforcer d éliminer du système scolaire les formes de discrimination fondées sur le sexe, la race, la religion, l âge, les handicaps, le statut économique, l état civil, l orientation sexuelle, le nombre de personnes à charge ou la grossesse. 7. Encourager la croissance professionnelle des enseignants par le perfectionnement continu de la formation préalable, de l internat d enseignement et de la formation en poste. 8. Établir un code de déontologie, ainsi que des critères en matière de qualification professionnelle et des critères et méthodes permettant d évaluer la compétence professionnelle et veiller à ce que les enseignants soient soumis au jugement de leurs collègues dans ces questions et puissent disposer de recours. 9. Garantir par l institution de procédés démocratiques l autonomie professionnelle des enseignants et leur protection contre toute action arbitraire ou malveillante, contre des règlements injustifiés ou l abus d autorité. 10. Maintenir pour les enseignants un niveau et un statut économiques conformes à la responsabilité de leur profession. 11. S efforcer, en collaboration avec d autres groupes et agences, de transformer les écoles publiques pour leur donner une pertinence accrue et les rendre plus efficaces dans la préparation des élèves pour l avenir. 12. Encourager, au sein des écoles publiques de la Colombie- Britannique, la formation d un environnement de travail et d apprentissage à l abri de toute violence. 13. Garantir à l ensemble des élèves, indépendamment de leur âge, le droit au libre accès à une formation de base, suivant la définition donnée par les programmes courants, de la maternelle jusqu à la douzième année. (see Policy 11.01 for English) Code de déontologie Le code de déontologie formule, pour tous les membres de la Fédération des enseignant(e)s de la C.-B. (FECB), des règles générales destinées à maintenir des normes élevées en matière de conduite professionnelle et de service envers les élèves, les collègues et le syndicat. Les membres sont priés de communiquer avec les responsables syndicaux locaux ou avec le personnel de la FECB approprié pour obtenir des conseils sur la manière de procéder avec des questions liées au code de déontologie de la FECB. 1. Les membres s adressent aux élèves et se comportent avec eux avec respect et dignité. Ils traitent avec eux de manière judicieuse, en prenant toujours en considération leurs droits et en ménageant leurs sentiments. 2. Les membres respectent le caractère confidentiel de l information concernant les élèves et ne peuvent divulguer de renseignements qu à des personnes ou à des agences autorisées qui s occupent directement du bien-être de ces derniers. Les membres respectent les dispositions juridiques pour signaler des situations concernant la protection de l enfance. 3. Une relation privilégiée existe entre les membres et les élèves. Les membres se gardent d en tirer profit à des fins matérielles, idéologiques ou autres. 1
4. Les membres s engagent à réexaminer volontiers avec leurs collègues, les élèves et leurs parents/tuteurs ou tutrices, la qualité des services fournis et les pratiques employées dans l exercice de leurs fonctions. 5. Les membres s engagent à mentionner toute critique concernant la performance pédagogique et le travail qui y est associé d un ou d une collègue à cette personne en privé. Si le membre croit que la question n a pas été réglée, il peut, après avoir informé par écrit en privé son collègue de son intention de le faire, adresser ses critiques confidentiellement aux personnes compétentes qui peuvent lui donner des conseils et de l aide. * Il ne sera pas considéré comme une infraction au code de déontologie pour un membre de respecter les dispositions juridiques ou les exigences officielles du protocole lorsqu il/elle signale des situations concernant la protection de l enfance. 6. Les membres reconnaissent l autorité et les responsabilités de la FECB et de ses syndicats locaux et s acquittent des devoirs qui leur incombent en tant que membres du syndicat. 7. Les membres obéissent aux dispositions de la convention collective. 8. Les membres agissent de manière à ne pas porter détriment aux moyens de pression au travail ou à toute autre stratégie de leur syndicat. 9. Les membres s engagent à ne pas poser leur candidature à un poste qui a été déclaré en litige par la Fédération, et à ne pas accepter un tel poste. 10.Les membres, individuellement aussi bien qu en tant qu adhérent(e)s à un groupe professionnel, s engagent à ne pas faire de démarches non autorisées auprès d organismes extérieurs au nom de la Fédération ou de ses syndicats locaux. * Voir la procédure 31.B.12 du Guide des membres de la 2
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Governance of the BCTF The BCTF is a democratically structured organization and the governance chart identifies the groups or bodies related to governance. Members Members of the BCTF ultimately determine the decisions and directions of the BCTF in two very important ways: 1. Members through locals elect delegates to the BCTF Annual General Meeting. The AGM makes key decisions for the organization and elects the Executive Committee. 2. Members through locals elect Local Representatives which make up the Representative Assembly. The RA has key decision making responsibilities. Locals Locals have the responsibility for acting on behalf of members regarding local matters. Members in locals elect their local president and executive which guide the affairs of the local. Annual General Meeting The Annual General Meeting is comprised of delegates and Local Representatives elected by members through locals, and the 11 members of the Executive Committee. There are approximately 670 voting delegates at an Annual General Meeting. The AGM elects the Executive Committee, determines the fee, approves any changes to the by-laws, establishes priorities for the next year and makes the significant policy decisions of the Federation. and spell out what each level of decision making is authorized to do. The by-laws of the BCTF have to be followed by all bodies of the organization, including the AGM. Only the AGM can amend the bylaws, and only then with a 75% majority of delegates voting in favour. The by-laws are found in Part 2 of this guide and spell out in more detail the role of each of the decision making bodies. Representative Assembly The Representative Assembly meets three times a year and has the specific responsibilities of approving a budget and electing the Judicial Council and Committee of Ombudspersons. The RA also makes policy and procedure decisions for the Federation. Executive Committee The Executive Committee of the BCTF is elected by the AGM and consists of 11 members. Three of them serve in a full-time capacity: the President, First Vice-President,and Second Vice-President. The Executive Committee has overall responsibility for the running of the Federation. It meets monthly with additional meetings as necessary. The Executive Committee is the employer of BCTF staff and determines what work will be done in any given year. The Executive Committee also has responsibility for the creation and appointment of any advisory committees or task forces. President The President of the Federation has responsibility for overall supervision of the affairs of the organization in between meetings of the Executive Committee. Constitution and by-laws The constitution and by-laws establish the rules by which the organization is run. The by-laws establish the division of responsibilities among the major decision making bodies Executive Committee 2017 18 President Glen Hansman O: 604-871-2153 C: 604-340-1923 ghansman@bctf.ca First Vice-President Teri Mooring O: 604-871-2159 C: 604-910-7779 tmooring@bctf.ca Second Vice-President Clint Johnston O: 604-871-2152 C: 604-340-3317 cjohnston@bctf.ca Members-at-Large Rory Brown O: 604-873-5570 C: 604-831-2299 rbrown@bctf.ca Rae Figursky S: 604-296-6865 C: 604-240-0314 rfigursky@bctf.ca Carole Gordon S: 250-870-5114 C: 250-808-9343 cgordon@bctf.ca Shawn Gough O: 250-949-8888 C: 250-902-9500 sgough@bctf.ca Carolyn Pena O: 604-988-3224 cpena@bctf.ca Jody Polukoshko S: 604-713-4978 C: 604-992-0911 jpolukoshko@bctf.ca Robin Tosczak S: 250-479-4014 C: 250-686-6537 rtosczak@bctf.ca Kip Wood S: 250-753-8211 C: 250-618-1348 kwood@bctf.ca 4
Staff organization The Federation employs about 140 people to develop and deliver the programs and services that are determined by the decision-making bodies of the organization. There are three groups of staff: administrative, support, and excluded. Administrative staff are primarily former teachers who were active in the organization and hired to carry out major program development and service. Support staff comprise the largest component of staff and perform a wide range of tasks including support to administrative staff and officers and technical and logistical support to a number of programs and initiatives. These two groups of staff are organized into two separate unions; the administrative staff which are affiliated to Unifor Local 464 and the support staff which are members of the Teachers Federation Employees Union. There are five excluded staff who undertake management oversight and human resources functions. The staff are organized into six divisions and a legal department that are shown on the staff organization chart. Each division has a Director and a specific set of responsibilities with regard to programs and services that are carried out through the division. The staff listing by division identifies some of the major responsibilities in each division. The Executive Director by virtue of the by-laws has overall responsibility for the conduct and organization of staff and for the overall assignment of work. The Executive Director is responsible directly to the Executive Committee and on a day-to-day basis consults with the president. 5
BCTF Staff/ Membres du personnel de la FECB Executive Director/Directrice générale O: 604-871-2156 Moira Mackenzie; mmackenzie@bctf.ca C: 778-836-2283 Executive Office Director/Directrice du secrétariat de l exécutif Yancy Ochoa; yochoa@bctf.ca O: 604-871-2154 Director of Human Resources/Directrice des Ressources humaines Julie Wenji; jwenji@bctf.ca O: 604-871-2203 General Counsel/Avocat général Diane MacDonald; dmacdonald@bctf.ca O: 604-871-1815 Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer/Trésorier et directeur des services financiers Delwin Yung; dyung@bctf.ca O: 604-871-2271 Communications and Campaigns Division Administrative Staff Contacts/Personnel cadre Responsibilities Phone Numbers (604 Area Code) Nancy Knickerbocker; Director O: 871-1872; C: 340-1992 nknickerbocker@bctf.ca Susan Croll; scroll@bctf.ca Teacher Magazine Editor/Internal Communications O: 871-1877; C: 754-1629 Jack MacDermot; jmacdermot@bctf.ca Outreach/Parents/Political Action O: 871-1883; C: 349-5038 Rich Overgaard; rovergaard@bctf.ca Media Relations Officer O: 871-1881; C: 340-1959 Field Service Division Kelly Shields; kshields@bctf.ca Director O: 871-1843; C: 340-2699 Arabella Devlin; adevlin@bctf.ca Central Okanagan, Gold Trail, Kamloops Thompson, O: 871-1887; C: 340-2652 Nicola Valley, North Okanagan-Shuswap, Okanagan Skaha, Princeton, Revelstoke, SEPF, South Okanagan, Similkameen, Vernon Susan Fonseca; sfonseca@bctf.ca Central Coast, Cowichan, Greater Victoria, Gulf Islands, O: 871-1819; C: 340-2245 Lake Cowichan, Saanich, Sooke Starleigh Grass; sgrass@bctf.ca Abbotsford, Bulkley Valley, Chilliwack, Haida Gwaii, O: 871-1839; C: 340-2833 Kitimat, Nisga a, Prince Rupert, Stikine, Terrace Chris Harris; charris@bctf.ca Delta, Fraser-Cascade, Langley, Maple Ridge, Mission, O: 871-1833; C: 340-2191 New Westminster, Surrey Patrick Henry; phenry@bctf.ca Burnaby, Coquitlam, North Vancouver, Richmond, O: 871-1840; C: 340-2172 Vancouver Elementary, Vancouver Secondary, West Vancouver Ritchie Kendrick; rkendrick@bctf.ca Collective Agreement Administration/Implementation/ O: 871-1838; C: 340-2321 Negotiation Support Charley King; cking@bctf.ca Burns Lake, Cariboo-Chilcotin, Fort Nelson, Nechako, O: 871-1812; C: 340-3023 Peace River North, Peace River South, Prince George, Quesnel, Sea to Sky Debbie Morran; dmorran@bctf.ca Arrow Lakes, Boundary, Cranbrook, Creston Valley, Fernie, Golden, Kimberley, Kootenay Columbia, Nelson, Windermere O: 871-1836; C: 340-1985 Daniel Storms; dstorms@bctf.ca Income Security Division Alberni, Campbell River, Comox, Mount Arrowsmith, Nanaimo, Powell River, Sunshine Coast, Vancouver Island North, Vancouver Island West O: 871-1841; C: 340-2177 Michael Kimmis; mkimmis@bctf.ca Director O: 871-1957; C: 340-3367 Victor Choy; vchoy@bctf.ca Pensions and Group Benefits O: 871-1949; C: 340-2840 Diane Irvine; dirvine@bctf.ca WCB Advocacy/BCTF Advantage O: 871-1890 Sarb Lalli; slalli@bctf.ca Salary Indemnity Plan Administrator O: 871-1935 Allan Lee; allanlee@bctf.ca Health and Wellness O: 871-1925 Mike Wisla; mwisla@bctf.ca Health and Safety Officer O: 871-1891 6
Legal Services Department Gretchen Brown; gbrown@bctf.ca Staff Lawyer O: 871-1912 Kerri Fisher; kfisher@bctf.ca Staff Lawyer O: 871-1905 Stephanie Quelch; squelch@bctf.ca Staff Lawyer O: 871-1907 Robyn Trask; rtrask@bctf.ca Staff Lawyer O: 871-1909 Professional and Social Issues Division Christine Stewart; cstewart@bctf.ca Director/Teachers Council/Deans of Education O: 871-1800; C: 340-2323 Michelle Davies; mdavies@bctf.ca Internal Relations Co-ordinator/Peer Support Services O: 871-1803 Lucie Ferrari; lferrari@bctf.ca French Programs and Services/New Teachers/BCTF on O: 871-1809 Campus/TQS Jenny Garrels; jgarrels@bctf.ca Member Training/TTOC O: 871-1871 Janice Neden; jneden@bctf.ca Curriculum and Education Policy/Ministry Liaison/ O: 871-1845 PSA Council Todd Patrick; tpatrick@bctf.ca Social Justice Co-ordinator O: 871-1850 Barb Ryeburn; bryeburn@bctf.ca Social Justice Co-ordinator O: 871-1821 Gail Stromquist; gstromquist@bctf.ca Aboriginal Education O: 871-1854 tba PIAC/Program for Quality Teaching O: 871-1849 Research and Technology Division Larry Kuehn; lkuehn@bctf.ca Director O: 871-2255; C: 340-3228 Department Fax Numbers/ Numéros de télécopieur par départements Accounting/Facilities/Purchasing/Treasurer 604-871-2293 Communications/Campaigns/Graphics 604-871-2289 Executive Offices 604-871-2290 Field Service 604-871-2291 Information Services/Information Technology/Research 604-871-2294 Health and Wellness 604-871-2296 Human Resources 604-871-2297 Income Security 604-871-2287 Legal Services 604-871-2288 Member Records 604-871-2285 Production 604-871-2292 Professional and Social Issues 604-871-2286 Retired Teachers 604-871-2265 Internet services BCTF website The BCTF website (www.bctf.ca), redesigned in 2014, provides members with a wealth of information about member services, professional and social justice issues, professional development events and programs, and classroom resources. The website includes the Federation s publications, such as the Teacher Magazine, research reports, and the Social Justice Newsletter, Teaching to Diversity subsite, and specialized databases, such as the video resources database and the Global Classroom. The website features a slider and news items highlighting new content and issues, and a Twitter feed. MYBCTF member portal MyBCTF (www.bctf.ca/mybctf) is a secure web portal for BCTF members only. Within the portal members can register for BCTF events, update their personal contact information, access content targeted to members, including bargaining updates, and participate in online discussion forums. Members login to the portal using their BCTF member ID and a password they create. The online member portal help guide (www.bctf.ca/portalhelp.aspx) provides sign-up instructions and FAQs. Members needing assistance can call the portal help line, 604-871-2119 or toll free 1-800-663-9163 (local 2119), or email portal@bctf.ca. TeachBC The BCTF s TeachBC website, teachbc.bctf.ca, enables BC teachers to submit and share resources relevant to the K 12 BC curriculum. Teachers also have the opportunity to access educational research in BC and share their own research. Social media The Federation is using social media Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Pinterest to communicate with members. Links are on www.bctf.ca. Our social media web page includes BCTF blogs, link to member discussion forums in the portal, and BCTF s social media guidelines. See www.bctf.ca/socialmedia.aspx. 7
membership in the Federation shall be deemed for all purposes to have terminated; and (b) where no membership fees are paid to a local for a period of six school months by an active member who is a member of that local, active membership in that local shall be deemed for all purposes to have terminated. By-law No. 2 Voting 2.1 At all general meetings of any local of the Federation, voting rights shall be governed by the provisions of By-law 1 and Bylaw 3.7. (10 AGM, p. 2) 2.2 Voting at any general and representative assembly meetings of the Federation is through a delegated system of voting. The election of delegates to any general meeting of the Federation, and of Local Representatives, shall be at a general meeting of the local or of the sub-local, as provided for in By-law 8.2. Notice of such meeting shall be given to every member of the local entitled to vote, in accordance with the by-laws of the local; in the absence of such provision notice shall be given to each member at their place of residence or business address not less than seven days before the meeting. (17 AGM, p. 8)) 2.3 No local shall include in its by-laws any provision denying the right to vote at any general meeting to any member entitled under By-law 1 to vote. By-law No. 3 Locals 3.1 The Executive Committee shall have the power to create locals. Each local shall adopt a constitution and by-laws to govern its operations. No clause in the constitution and by-laws of any local shall be inconsistent with the constitution and by-laws of the federation. Failure to observe the terms of this by-law may render a local liable to sanctions contained in By-law 6.12. 3.2 Locals of the federation shall be entitled to full autonomy in the conduct of collective bargaining and negotiations with employers. 3.3 A local may make provision for the formation of sub-locals. To qualify as a sub-local for the purpose of By-laws 8 and 9 (representation at general meetings) each sub-local must be approved by resolution of the Executive Committee of the federation. For the purpose of By-law 6 (representation at the Representative Assembly), a sub-local approved by resolution of the Executive Committee of the federation shall be considered a local. 3.4 If two or more school districts amalgamate, the locals in those districts shall be supported by the BCTF as the locals determine the governance structures that best meet the needs of their members. 3.5 No person shall be a member of a local who is not a member of the federation. 3.6 All active members of the Federation employed in the British Columbia public school system shall be members of the local or, if appropriate, locals organized in the school district by which they are employed. Where more than one local exists in any school district, membership in the appropriate local or locals shall depend on the duties assigned by the employing school district. (10 AGM, p. 3) 3.7 Active members working in more than one local shall choose the local in which they shall be permitted to vote and hold office. (10 AGM, p. 3) 3.8 Only active members shall be entitled to vote or to hold office in locals. By-law No. 4 Fees and Levies 4.1 Each active, affiliate and associate member of the federation shall pay an annual fee. The annual fee shall consist of: (a) an amount set by the Annual General Meeting of the federation, payable to the federation; (b) for those members who are members of locals, an amount set by a general meeting of each local, payable to the local. 4.2 The membership year for active members shall be from July 1 and shall end on June 30 next following. For active members, the fee is due and payable in installments at the end of each month, proportionate to the period of employment of the member during the membership year. Active members shall execute authorizations for payroll deduction of fees and levies. Active members are deemed to be in good standing upon execution of the said authorization. For associate members, the membership year shall be the 12 months following the date of application for associate membership accompanied by payment of fees at the rate currently in force, except for associate members who are uncertificated teacher replacements, in which case the membership year and method of payment of fees and levies shall be the same as for active members. 4.3 For expenses in connection with the obtaining of the objectives of the federation, any general meeting may make a levy upon the active membership of the federation. In the event that the Collective Bargaining Defence Fund, established by the federation, has a balance of less than $5,000,000.00, the Representative Assembly may make a levy upon the active membership of the federation of an amount necessary to immediately restore the balance in that fund to the sum of $5,000,000.00. Any levy made on the membership pursuant to this by-law shall be paid by each active member on or before a date to be determined by the general meeting or Executive Committee, and any member who fails to comply with this requirement shall not be in good standing until such levy is paid. Notwithstanding anything contained in these by-laws, no levy on the membership of the federation shall be made for the purpose of financing political parties and/or election campaigns of political parties. 4.4 The membership fee established by a local includes, and shall be deemed in all cases to include, the fees and levies of the federation. The annual fee and any levy of the federation or any levy of a local of the federation are debts due to the federation or the local, as the case may be, and may be collected with costs of suit in the name of the federation or the local, as the case may be, in any court of appropriate jurisdiction. By-law No. 5 Executive Committee 5.1(a) There shall be an Executive Committee, which shall consist of a President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, an Immediate Past President (when applicable), and nine Members-at- Large, elected in such a manner as to ensure that at least three Member-at-Large vacancies are filled at each AGM. One Member-at- Large position shall be designated to be held by a racialized member and one shall be designated to be held by an Aboriginal member. The designated positions shall have the same term and role as the nondesignated positions. The Executive Committee positions are elected by the Annual General Meeting and shall take office on the following July 1. Each member of the Executive Committee shall be a member in good standing entitled to vote, in accordance with By-law 1.1. An Executive Committee member may be removed from office under the provisions of By-law 1.7 or By-law 7. (17 AGM, p. 22) 5.1(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, each member-at-large shall be elected for a term of two years. If for any reason a memberat-large leaves the position after only one year, a successor shall be elected to fill the unexpired portion of the two-year term. 5.1(c) The Immediate Past-President serves in a one-year, supernumerary position on the Executive Committee. In the event that a President shall be elected to an additional year of office, the Executive Committee position of immediate Past-President shall be vacated. (17 AGM, p. 21) 5.1(d) All members of the Executive Committee shall be eligible for re-election subject to the equity criteria established in Bylaw 5.1(a). (17 AGM, p. 22) 5.1(e) The Member-at-Large position designated to be held by an Aboriginal member is open only to the election of a member who identifies as being Aboriginal. 5.1(f) The Member-at-Large position designated to be held by a racialized member is open to the election of a member who identifies as racialized, including those members who identify as being Aboriginal. 5.2 The Executive Committee shall meet at the call of the President. The President shall call a meeting of the Executive Committee on demand of a majority of its members. 5.3 Subject to By-laws 6, 8, 9 and 14, the Executive Committee shall exercise all the powers of the Federation, the direction and supervision of the business and the conduct of the affairs of the Federation. 12
2016 17 Local Fees and Release Time Local Members As of Sep 30, 2016 (excluding TTOCs) Local Fees Release Time Actual FTE Regular TTOC Pres Other Officers Abbotsford 1,140 1,035 $400.5% 100.0 Vice-President 100% Alberni 233 219 $515.4% 100.0 PD chairperson 12.5% Arrow Lakes 36 33 $406.556% 100.0 none Boundary 87 81 $450 2.75% daily 100.0 as needed rate Bulkley Valley 122 112.64%.64% 100.0,as needed Burnaby 1,678 1,493.75%.56% 100.0 first and second Vice-President 100% Burns Lake $500 1% 100.0 as needed Campbell River 323 298 $450.6% of 100.0 salary Cariboo-Chilcotin 315 289 $450 $2 per day 100.0 Vice-President and PD chairperson 20% Max $200 Central Coast 26 23 $500 1.25% 100.0 Central Okanagan 1,315 1,246 $460.60% 100.0 First Vice-President,50% Second Vice- President -60%,PD chairperson 50% and H&S Chair 20% Chilliwack 767 716 $530 1.6% daily 100.0 Vice-President 100%, PD chairperson 20% Comox 451 402 0.7%.7% 100.0 Vice-President 50%, PD chairperson up to 20% Coquitlam 2,012 1.811 $560.25% of daily salary 100.0 First Vice-President and grievance officer 100%, second vice-president 60%, PD chairperson 40%, Cowichan 437 427 $485.6% 100.0 Vice-President 50% Cranbrook 220 198 0.8265%.83 100.0 Vice-President -0.139%; as needed Creston Valley 93 84 0.80%.80% 100.0 as needed Delta 1048 955 $430.25% of actual salary 100.0 First Vice-President 100%, PD chairperson 10% Fernie 123 113 $500 Per diem 100.0 as needed 1/200 x annual fee Fort Nelson 45 44 $500 $2/Day 100.0 as needed Fraser-Cascade 103 97 0.6%.6% 100.0 as needed Gold Trail 85 85 $400.65% 100.0 as needed Golden 56 49 $400 0.80% 100.0 none Gulf Islands 122 106 0.8%.8% 100.0 as needed Haida Gwaii 46 41 $536.59% 100.0 none Kamloops Thompson 854 782 $493 $2.10 /day 100.0 First Vice-President 100%, PD chairperson 30% Kimberley 64 61 $400.50% 100.0 as needed Kitimat 66 62 1% of 1% of Salary 100.0 as needed Salary Kootenay Columbia 234 223 $500.5% 100.0 as needed Lake Cowichan 32 27 $480.6% 100.0 as needed Langley 1,273 1,138 0.64%.64% 100.0 First Vice-President 100%, Second Vice- President as needed Maple Ridge 905 826 0.71%.71% of salary 100.0 First Vice-President and bargaining chairperson 100% Mission 360 326 0.875%.875% 100.0 as needed Mount Arrowsmith 265 247 0.75% 100.0 Vice-President 50%, others as needed Nanaimo 796 733 0.88%.76% 70.0 First Vice-President 100%, Second Vice- President 40%,2 Pro D Co-chairs 20% Nechako 184 182 0.0075%.0075% 100.0 Nelson 198 183 0.8%.8% 100.0 New Westminster 438 379 0.8%.25% 100.0 as needed Nicola Valley 117 111 $400 2% max $25 per month 100.0 as needed 9
Local Members As of Sep 30, 2016 (excluding TTOCs) Local Fees Release Time Actual FTE Regular TTOC Pres Other Officers Nisga a 38 38 $500 0.36% 100.0 as needed North Okanagan- 375 340 0.7% 4% 100.0 as needed Shuswap North Vancouver 1,000 869 0.80%.80% 100.0 First Vice-President 100%, Second Vice- President 60%, PD Chair 40% Okanagan Skaha 347 326 0.73%.73% 100.0 PD chairperson 20%, others as needed Peace River North 358 337 0.70%.60% 100.0 Vice-President 20% Peace River South 202 188 $500 $3/day 100.0 as needed worked Powell River 126 113 $500.6% 100.0 PD chairperson 20% Prince George 811 758 $460 $2.30 per 100.0 First Vice-President 100% day Prince Rupert 160 152 0.80% 1.25% of 100.0 wages Princeton 33 31 0.60%.6% 100.0 as needed Quesnel 215 200 $585 + 1% 100.0 as needed $50 Levy Revelstoke 69 62 0.88%.88% 100.0 Richmond 1261 1161 $400.55% 100.0 First and Second Vice-President 100% Saanich 463 398 0.60%.60% 100.0 as needed Sea to Sky 303 264.80%.45% 100.0 PD chairperson 20% SEPF 430 385 550 $1 per day 100.0 First Vice-President 60%, Sooke 605 533.75%.47% 100.0 Vice-President 40% South Okanagan- 145 135 0.7%.7% 100.0 as needed Similkameen Stikine 18 18 $600 60 100.0 none Sunshine Coast 221 197 0.0065%.65% 100.0 PD chairperson 0.143%, Surrey 4513 3969 0.62% 0.62% 100.0 First and Second Vice-President, two grievance officers, health and safety officer, professional issues officer 100% Terrace 221 209 $600 $45/1 day 100.0 as needed Vancouver Elementary 1977 1789 0.85%.68 100.0 First, Second, and Third Vice-President 100%, Adult Ed President 33% Vancouver Island 84 79 0.69%.69% 100.0 as needed North Vancouver Island 35 31 $600 600 prorated 100.0 none West Vancouver 1242 1168 0.83% 83% of 100.0 First and Second Vice-President 100% Secondary salary Vernon 520 476 $465.5% 100.0 PD chairperson 20%, Bargaining chair 10% Victoria 1170 1057 0.081%.081% 100.0 First Vice-President and Second Vice- President 60%, PD chairperson 0.286%, contact chair 20% and Secretary Treasurer 14.3% West Vancouver 475 417 $576.55% of gross 100.0 Vice-President 40%, PD chairperson 12.5%, Windermere 71 67 $400 400 prorated 100.0 as needed 10
PART 2 Constitution and By-laws BCTF Constitution Name The name of the society is the British Columbia Teachers' Federation. Purposes The purposes of the Society are: 1. To foster and promote the cause of education in British Columbia. 2. To raise the status of the teaching profession in British Columbia. 3. To promote the welfare of the teachers of British Columbia. 4. To provide for the enlargement of the scope of the purposes of the Federation by permitting an alliance or affiliation to be made between the Federation and any other organization having purposes similar to the Federation. 5. To organize and administer a Salary Indemnity Fund among its members. 6. To organize and administer a Benevolent Fund among its members. 7. To organize and administer such other services and programs as the Annual General Meeting may from time to time order. 8. To finance and administer programs to encourage the employment of teachers in numbers consistent with staffing ratios developed by the profession. 9. To finance and administer programs to foster effective teaching and appropriate learning conditions as approved by the profession. 10. To regulate relations between employers and employees through collective bargaining in British Columbia. 11. To create and charter locals of the Federation. 12. To continue to develop and offer programs of professional development for teachers. 13. To safeguard teachers pensions and act as joint trust plan member partner with respect to teacher pension funds. 14. To continue to develop programs of social justice, and to provide international assistance to educational organizations. 15. To promote the attainment of the purposes of the Federation by participation in educational, social, co-operative, electoral, political, economic, bargaining or other activity authorized pursuant to the by-laws of the Federation. This society is a member-funded society. It is funded primarily by its members to carry on activities for the benefit of its members. On its liquidation or dissolution, this society may distribute its money and other property to its members. (17 AGM, p. 7) By-laws By-law No. 1 Membership 1.1(a) All teachers employed in a school district in the province of British Columbia shall be eligible to be active members of the federation and of a local in that school district. 1.1(b) Persons other than those referred to in by-law 1.1(a) may, on application, be granted active membership in the federation in accordance with policies established by the Representative Assembly and may be granted membership in such local as is determined appropriate by the Executive Committee. 1.1(c) Exclusions: Those positions that create a conflict of interest such as Members of the Legislative Assembly, officials and employees of the Ministry of Education, employees of the British Columbia Public School Employers' Association, employees of the British Columbia School Trustees Association, employees of the British Columbia School Superintendents' Association, employees of the Principals' and Vice-Principals' Association, district superintendents of schools, superintendents of schools, assistant superintendents of schools, and administrative officers shall not be eligible for active membership in the Federation. (13 AGM. p. 6) 1.1(d) Active members shall be the voting members of the Federation and, subject to By-laws 1.7 and 3.7, shall be entitled to hold office and to vote on all matters as provided by these by-laws. (10 AGM, p.2) (17 AGM, p. 8) 1.1(e) Should the immediate Past-President of the BCTF or of a local cease to be an active member of the BCTF, they shall be considered an active member for the purpose of serving as Past- President until their term of office as Past-President, of no more than one year, has been completed. 1.2 Associate membership may be granted by the Executive Committee on application and on payment of a fee, pursuant to Bylaw 4, according to the scale of fees then in force. Associate membership shall be granted only to persons not eligible for active membership who hold a teaching certificate acceptable to the Executive Committee or occupy an educational or teaching position acceptable to the Executive Committee. Associate members shall not be entitled to vote or to hold office. 1.3 Honorary associate membership without fee may be granted by the Executive Committee to honor distinguished service by persons who have ceased to be active members. Honorary associate members shall not be entitled to vote or to hold office. 1.4 Honorary membership may be conferred by resolution of the Annual General Meeting or of the Representative Assembly on any person, not a teacher, whom the federation wishes to honor. Honorary members shall not be entitled to vote or to hold office. 1.5 Honorary life membership: An Annual General Meeting may confer on any member honorary life membership in the federation. Honorary life members shall, while holding positions as teachers in the public schools of British Columbia, be accorded equivalent status, without payment of fee, to active membership. 1.6 Affiliate membership may be granted by the Executive Committee on application and payment of a fee, pursuant to By-law 4. Persons appointed as administrative officers in a school district shall be eligible, upon application and payment of fees and levies in accordance with By-law 8.5, for Affiliate Administrative Membership which shall entitle the member to participate in the Salary Indemnity Plan, established pursuant to By-law 8.7, for up to one year and such other benefit plans as the Annual General Meeting may determine, provided that the application is made within 30 days of that person's first appointment as an administrative officer. Affiliate members shall not be entitled to vote or to hold office. (13 AGM, p. 6) 1.7 Members not in good standing shall be those active members who fail to pay fees or levies as prescribed in these Bylaws. Members not in good standing shall not be entitled to vote or to seek or hold office, or to receive benefits of membership and shall be subject to recovery of fees pursuant to By-law 4.4. 1.8 An active member who is granted an unpaid leave of absence by the school district in which the member is employed is, unless employed by another school district or excluded by By-law 1.1.c, entitled to remain a member of the Federation without payment of fee for the period of such leave of absence. (13 AGM, p. 6) 1.9 Subject only to By-law 1.8, (a) where no membership fees are paid to the federation by an active member for a period of six school months, active 11
membership in the Federation shall be deemed for all purposes to have terminated; and (b) where no membership fees are paid to a local for a period of six school months by an active member who is a member of that local, active membership in that local shall be deemed for all purposes to have terminated. By-law No. 2 Voting 2.1 At all general meetings of any local of the Federation, voting rights shall be governed by the provisions of By-law 1 and Bylaw 3.7. (10 AGM, p. 2) 2.2 Voting at any general and representative assembly meetings of the Federation is through a delegated system of voting. The election of delegates to any general meeting of the Federation, and of Local Representatives, shall be at a general meeting of the local or of the sub-local, as provided for in By-law 8.2. Notice of such meeting shall be given to every member of the local entitled to vote, in accordance with the by-laws of the local; in the absence of such provision notice shall be given to each member at their place of residence or business address not less than seven days before the meeting. (17 AGM, p. 8)) 2.3 No local shall include in its by-laws any provision denying the right to vote at any general meeting to any member entitled under By-law 1 to vote. By-law No. 3 Locals 3.1 The Executive Committee shall have the power to create locals. Each local shall adopt a constitution and by-laws to govern its operations. No clause in the constitution and by-laws of any local shall be inconsistent with the constitution and by-laws of the federation. Failure to observe the terms of this by-law may render a local liable to sanctions contained in By-law 6.12. 3.2 Locals of the federation shall be entitled to full autonomy in the conduct of collective bargaining and negotiations with employers. 3.3 A local may make provision for the formation of sub-locals. To qualify as a sub-local for the purpose of By-laws 8 and 9 (representation at general meetings) each sub-local must be approved by resolution of the Executive Committee of the federation. For the purpose of By-law 6 (representation at the Representative Assembly), a sub-local approved by resolution of the Executive Committee of the federation shall be considered a local. 3.4 If two or more school districts amalgamate, the locals in those districts shall be supported by the BCTF as the locals determine the governance structures that best meet the needs of their members. 3.5 No person shall be a member of a local who is not a member of the federation. 3.6 All active members of the Federation employed in the British Columbia public school system shall be members of the local or, if appropriate, locals organized in the school district by which they are employed. Where more than one local exists in any school district, membership in the appropriate local or locals shall depend on the duties assigned by the employing school district. (10 AGM, p. 3) 3.7 Active members working in more than one local shall choose the local in which they shall be permitted to vote and hold office. (10 AGM, p. 3) 3.8 Only active members shall be entitled to vote or to hold office in locals. By-law No. 4 Fees and Levies 4.1 Each active, affiliate and associate member of the federation shall pay an annual fee. The annual fee shall consist of: (a) an amount set by the Annual General Meeting of the federation, payable to the federation; (b) for those members who are members of locals, an amount set by a general meeting of each local, payable to the local. 4.2 The membership year for active members shall be from July 1 and shall end on June 30 next following. For active members, the fee is due and payable in installments at the end of each month, proportionate to the period of employment of the member during the membership year. Active members shall execute authorizations for payroll deduction of fees and levies. Active members are deemed to be in good standing upon execution of the said authorization. For associate members, the membership year shall be the 12 months following the date of application for associate membership accompanied by payment of fees at the rate currently in force, except for associate members who are uncertificated teacher replacements, in which case the membership year and method of payment of fees and levies shall be the same as for active members. 4.3 For expenses in connection with the obtaining of the objectives of the federation, any general meeting may make a levy upon the active membership of the federation. In the event that the Collective Bargaining Defence Fund, established by the federation, has a balance of less than $5,000,000.00, the Representative Assembly may make a levy upon the active membership of the federation of an amount necessary to immediately restore the balance in that fund to the sum of $5,000,000.00. Any levy made on the membership pursuant to this by-law shall be paid by each active member on or before a date to be determined by the general meeting or Executive Committee, and any member who fails to comply with this requirement shall not be in good standing until such levy is paid. Notwithstanding anything contained in these by-laws, no levy on the membership of the federation shall be made for the purpose of financing political parties and/or election campaigns of political parties. 4.4 The membership fee established by a local includes, and shall be deemed in all cases to include, the fees and levies of the federation. The annual fee and any levy of the federation or any levy of a local of the federation are debts due to the federation or the local, as the case may be, and may be collected with costs of suit in the name of the federation or the local, as the case may be, in any court of appropriate jurisdiction. By-law No. 5 Executive Committee 5.1(a) There shall be an Executive Committee, which shall consist of a President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, an Immediate Past President (when applicable), and nine Members-at- Large, elected in such a manner as to ensure that at least three Member-at-Large vacancies are filled at each AGM. One Member-at- Large position shall be designated to be held by a racialized member and one shall be designated to be held by an Aboriginal member. The designated positions shall have the same term and role as the nondesignated positions. The Executive Committee positions are elected by the Annual General Meeting and shall take office on the following July 1. Each member of the Executive Committee shall be a member in good standing entitled to vote, in accordance with By-law 1.1. An Executive Committee member may be removed from office under the provisions of By-law 1.7 or By-law 7. (17 AGM, p. 22) 5.1(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, each member-at-large shall be elected for a term of two years. If for any reason a memberat-large leaves the position after only one year, a successor shall be elected to fill the unexpired portion of the two-year term. 5.1(c) The Immediate Past-President serves in a one-year, supernumerary position on the Executive Committee. In the event that a President shall be elected to an additional year of office, the Executive Committee position of immediate past-president shall be vacated and an additional member-at-large shall be elected for a one-year term. (17 AGM, p. 21) 5.1(d) All members of the Executive Committee shall be eligible for re-election subject to the equity criteria established in Bylaw 5.1(a). (17 AGM, p. 22) 5.1(e) The Member-at-Large position designated to be held by an Aboriginal member is open only to the election of a member who identifies as being Aboriginal. 5.1(f) The Member-at-Large position designated to be held by a racialized member is open to the election of a member who identifies as racialized, including those members who identify as being Aboriginal. 5.2 The Executive Committee shall meet at the call of the President. The President shall call a meeting of the Executive Committee on demand of a majority of its members. 5.3 Subject to By-laws 6, 8, 9 and 14, the Executive Committee shall exercise all the powers of the Federation, the direction and supervision of the business and the conduct of the affairs of the Federation. 12