#bctf

The B.C. Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) is claiming a major victory after a grievance victory in connection to the shortage of educators in the province.

School districts will no longer be able to pull teacher-librarians, counsellors and other special education teachers from their normal duties when a classroom teacher is absent. The union filed the complaint last spring stating the Chilliwack school board didn’t hire enough teachers to fill demand.

“Because of the failure to fill classroom teaching positions, students with special needs have been losing out,” said BCTF president Glen Hansman. “Every time a specialist teacher is required to fill in for a classroom teacher, their special programs are set aside.”

The president of the British Columbia Teachers' Federation says a Chilliwack school trustee who has made controversial LGBT comments shouldn't be "anywhere near students" and that's why the BCTF has filed a human rights complaint against him.

The complaint says that Barry Neufeld's alleged "hateful" public comments about trans people have created an unsafe work environment for teachers and students, as the province moves to make students of all orientations feel safer in schools.

The BCTF is the second union to file a complaint against the trustee after his public social media posts targeted transgender issues.