Leadership and Structure

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.

There are six excluded staff who undertake management oversight and human resources functions.

The lawyers and paralegals in the Legal Services Division work to protect and enhance the legal rights of the union and its members. Advocacy and support is provided through legal advice and training to locals, representation of the union during the grievance arbitration process, and representation of members through the Federation’s legal aid program. They also represent the Federation and its locals in Labour Relations Board, Human Rights Tribunal and court matters.

The Communications and Campaigns division coordinates the BCTF’s outspoken advocacy on news and issues in education. They practice positivity in media relations, with respect for the work journalists do. They employ leading edge digital tools and strategies to communicate with our members and locals. They engage in active community and labour outreach, creating strong connections with parents, the public, and the union movement. They publish Teacher magazine five times a year, as well as a broad range of classroom resources. They coordinate public opinion research, advertising campaigns, and political action. They are also responsible for the BCTF’s governance structures, organizing the Annual General Meeting and Representative Assemblies.

The Income Security Division has responsibility for the Salary Indemnity Plan, Health and Wellness Program (rehabilitation) and the Living with Balance (preventative) program. Co-ordinates the pensions program, provides information for members and fulfills the Federation’s obligations related to the Teacher Pension Plan. The Division also handles Workers’ Compensation appeals for members.

The Information, Research, and International Solidarity (IRIS) Division of the BCTF carries out and provides access to research that support the leadership priorities and key objectives of the BCTF in bargaining, education policy, professional practice, and social justice. Their work is guided by the vision of supporting and strengthening teacher unions as agents of change and defenders of universal, democratic and quality public education. They advocate for the development of educational policy, school programs and classroom practice based on teacher knowledges and experiences. International solidarity, particularly in the Americas, focuses on long-term relationships that are mutually respectful and co-operative in determining the nature of projects.

The professional and Social Issues Division has responsibility for a wide range of professional matters such as curriculum, education policy, professional development, teacher education, teacher inquiry, mentorship and peer support. Co-ordinates the Provincial Specialist Associations (PSAs), the Social Justice Program, Aboriginal Education Program, French Programs and Services, programs for teachers teaching on call, for teachers new to teaching and for adult educators, organizes leadership training—Summer Conference, Federation Leadership Institute, and Facilitators’ Institute Training. The Training Department which is a component of PSID, offers an extensive teacher workshop program. Administers the Code of Ethics and co-ordinates the work of the Internal Mediation Service.

The Field Service Division supports locals in bargaining, contract implementation and defence of member rights, assists locals with Federation campaigns and province-wide actions, advances the broad range of Federation services and programs in professional, health and safety, social justice, communications and outreach, etc., with local members and leadership.

The Finance and Administrative Services Division provides relevant, reliable, and timely financial and administrative support to stakeholders. They maximize treasury management strategies, safeguard the assets of the BCTF, and ensure a strong internal control environment with procedures set out in the Members’ Guide to the BCTF. They maintain the BCTF’s accounting systems and provide accounting services to the provincial specialist associations, Salary Indemnity Plan, and the BCTF Assistance Society. They also provide support to the programs, locals, and staff of the Federation through our strong membership system and information technology department.

The Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression Office was created in recognition of structural and systemic discrimination within society and our organization. This office works toward dismantling systemic racism within the BCTF and to achieve racial justice across the Federation’s structures, practices, and policies. Through the Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression Office, the BCTF has both the opportunity and the responsibility to go beyond responding to incidents of racism and dive into the deeper work of foundational change.