Teachers’ bargaining: Breaking down the numbers
Contract talks are on hold between B. C. teachers and their employer over spring break, but are set to resume on April 1. The Vancouver Sun’s education reporter, Tracy Sherlock, takes a look at the key issues
What are teachers asking for?
B. C. teachers are asking for a three- year agreement that includes a three- percent wage increase plus a cost- of- living increase in each of the three years, beginning July 1, 2013. The cost of living is expected to increase between one and two per cent in each of the next few years, making the total ask over three years about 13 per cent.
What would this cost?
A starting teacher earns $ 48,083 in Vancouver. After three years and a 13- per- cent wage increase, that would rise to $ 54,333. The top salary level, reached after 10 years of work, for a teacher with a master’s in education is $ 81,488 in Vancouver. After a 13- percent wage increase, that salary would be $ 92,081. The BCTF says the average teacher’s wage is $ 71,485, and there are about 41,000 teachers in the province. If that average went up 13 per cent, the total cost would be about $ 381 million, which amounts to a seven- per- cent increase in the $ 5.4- billion total spent annually in B. C. on the K- 12 system.
What is the teachers’ employer off ering?
The employer’s wage proposal is for a 10- year contract, with a total of 6.5 per cent spread out until May 1, 2019, with indexing after that. If the average teacher earns $ 71,485 and that increases 6.5 per cent, the total cost to the system after fi ve years would be $ 190 million, or 3.5 per cent of the $ 5.4- billion annual budget for K- 12.
How much paid vacation time do teachers have?
Although there are diff erent school calendars around the province, most of the province’s 60 districts still operate a traditional annual calendar that runs from September to June. Teachers are paid an annual salary to work the days that schools are in session. Teachers are paid over 10 months, unless they opt into an annual savings plan that allows them to be paid out those savings during the summer. The two- week Christmas break and the one- week spring break are considered vacation time. Teachers in most districts do not work during the summer and their annual salary does not account for them working in the summer. Many districts have changed to a two- week spring break, but this is not additional vacation time, it is made up in an adjustment to the number of minutes worked in each day. Teachers do not get more vacation time with more years of service.
How many professional development days do teachers get?
Each year, teachers have fi ve days that are deemed non- instructional and used for professional development. There is also a sixth day, which is a provincial non- instructional day, with a topic that is determined by the province. Teachers are at work on these days and participate in workshops, planning and other activities.
How many hours do they work?
Teachers are paid an annual salary that includes instructional hours, planning for their classes, marking, preparing report cards and attending meetings. In most districts, teachers also supervise students outside instructional hours during recess, lunch or before school. They do get preparation time during the week, which is part of the school schedule. Most elementary teachers get 90 minutes of preparation time each week, although it does vary throughout the province. Secondary teachers get 193 minutes a week for preparation time. Teachers do not get overtime pay.
Do teachers get sick days?
Teachers can take 1.5 sick days per month, which over 10 months means 15 sick days per year. These days do accumulate year- to- year, but are never paid out in cash. Most districts cap the total number of days that can accumulate; some do not.
What about benefi ts?
Teachers’ benefi ts vary throughout the province. For example, in one district the teachers’ Medical Services Plan premiums may be fully covered by the employer, while in another district the employee may pay a portion. An analysis of the Vancouver school board’s fi nancial statement shows that employee benefi ts ( for all employees, not just teachers) account for an additional 25 per cent of wage costs. That would include things like pension contributions, MSP premiums, extended health and dental. It would not include sick time, the cost of which would be refl ected in teacher on- call payments. Many of the benefi ts, such as Canada Pension Plan contributions or the teachers’ pension plan contributions, would be tied to wages, so they would also increase if wages go up.
Do teachers get dental coverage and extended health?
Yes, teachers in B. C. do get dental and extended health coverage. In some districts the premiums for these types of insurance are fully paid by the employer, in others the employee pays a portion. The amount of the benefi t also varies per district; for example, in one district basic dental may cover 100 per cent of a visit to the dentist, while in another district only 80 per cent might be covered. Teachers on call do not get benefi ts, but are paid $ 3 a day in lieu of benefi ts.
What about their pension plan?
Teachers are in a pension plan with school administrators and district staff such as superintendents. Contributions are shared by employees and employers. The employees pay 12.5 per cent of their salary up to the year’s maximum pensionable earnings and 14 per cent of their salary above that level. The employer pays 14.63 per cent and 16.13 per cent respectively. The earliest a teacher can retire and collect their pension is 55, but the payout will be reduced unless the person has worked for at least 35 years.
How do these benefi ts compare with those off ered in other provinces?
The Ministry of Education said a comparative analysis has been presented at the bargaining table, but they did not provide it to The Vancouver Sun by deadline.
How has education funding changed in the past decade?
An analysis done by Iglika Ivanova of the B. C. Centre for Policy Alternatives shows that in real terms, education spending was essentially frozen in the early 2000s, rose somewhat between 2005- 06 and 2008- 09 and has been essentially frozen since 2008- 09. Ivanova found that growth was much faster in the early 2000s and has been very small since about 2007- 08 — an average of just over one per cent per year. Ivanova noted that the increases projected in this budget for 2014- 15 to 2016- 17 are very small — 0.4 per cent, 0.1 per cent and 0.1 per cent, respectively, while the provincial budget projects increases in the consumer price index of 1.5 per cent in 2014- 15, 1.9 per cent in 2015- 16 and two per cent in future years. The number of students has also changed over time. Full- time equivalent enrolment was 587,247 in 20022003 and is 527,910 today, according to Ministry of Education fi gures. The B. C. Budget projects student enrolment in K- 12 schools to start increasing in 2014- 15. Another change is that kindergarten students now attend school all day, eff ectively doubling the FTE count. Per pupil funding is $ 8,654 this year, the ministry of education said.