BCTF Affiliation

Canadian Teachers’ Federation

At the BCTF’s Annual General Meeting in March 2016, delegates voted to rejoin the Canadian Teachers' Federation (CTF) after eight years outside the national teachers’ organization.

In part, the supporting statement read: “It's very clear that teachers, students, the profession, and public education across the country are increasingly facing the same issues, issues which require a unified national response. The BCTF not only has a lot to contribute to this response and to the national organization, it has a great deal to gain from active participation within the CTF and with other provincial teacher organizations.”

It also noted the tremendous solidarity and support the BCTF received from the CTF and its affiliates during our 2005, 2012, and 2014 strikes.

In July 2016, BCTF President Glen Hansman led the BCTF's delegation to the CTF AGM, where delegates unanimously approved the Federation's reintegration into the national organization.

As part of the CTF once again, BCTF members are now part of a national alliance of provincial and territorial teacher organizations that represent nearly 200,000 elementary and secondary school teachers across Canada. Through the CTF, the BCTF is now also a member of Education International, the global union federation that represents about 30 million teachers and education workers around the world.   

BC Federation of Labour (BCFed) and Canadian Labour Congress (CLC)

BCTF members voted to join the BCFed in 2003 for a three-year trial period. The trial period was followed by another member vote. In 2006, teachers voted 78.2% to join the CLC and maintain membership in the BCFed.

The 2006 BCTF AGM decided that the BCTF fee should be increased by .03% ($20 per year for a member earning $60,000) to pay all of the costs of affiliation if members voted “yes” to affiliation. See AGM decisions on costs for more information.

The 2006 BCTF AGM also adopted a statement of principles for BCTF participation in the labour movement.

Background on the CLC and the BCFed

• About the Canadian Labour Congress
• About the BC Federation of Labour

BCTF experience in the labour movement

• BCTF affiliation video
• Participation on BCFed committees, comments from committee members
• Benefits during the three-year trial period. See also School Staff Alert #62, March 31, 2006.
• Thank you from the teachers of BC - handout 

Teacher newsmagazine articles

• Affiliation: standing together (Mar 2006)
• Affiliation voices (Mar 2006)
• Health & safety: is affiliation worth it? (Mar 2006)
• I'm voting yes for affiliation (Jan/Feb 2006)

The BCFed and public education

• BCFed policy statement on education
• Canadian Labour Congress policies on education:
  • Public Education, Special Needs Students, Privatization, Contracting Out
  • Provincial Funding, Public Education
  • Funding, Contracting Out, Privatization, Charter Schools
• The BCFed speaks out on public education