The BC Supreme Court has ruled that a law enacted in 2002, restricting teachers from limiting class size, is "unconstitutional and invalid." The BC Teacher's Federation challenged the law declaring it severely impacted their working conditions and ability to deliver quality education in the classroom. The recent Supreme Court decision opens the door for future negotiations.
Arbitrator James Dorsey has ruled that teachers must be compensated with extra paid holidays if their classrooms violate provincial laws regarding class size and composition. He reasoned that if boards of education aren't able to fulfill their legislative responsibilities and legal standards, then the provincial government must be held accountable. The BCTF's ability to negotiate class size and composition was stripped in 2002.
