Dear BCTF/CUPE members,

Today, we write to express our deepest gratitude for your unwavering support of students in public schools across the province. We are so proud to serve as your union presidents, and we are committed to advocating for more supports for kids, seismically upgraded schools, manageable workloads, and thriving public schools. There is a provincial election happening this Saturday, October 19, and there’s a lot at stake for education workers in BC. Your vote matters.

As education professionals, you know that our public education system needs help. You see students waiting too long for inclusive education designations. You’ve seen an increase in violence in classrooms. You know that students need more counselling support than they’re currently getting. We recognize that you’re filling gaps, making it work, and going above and beyond to ensure kids receive the supports they deserve. But it’s just not sustainable—there are too many gaps, and they continue to widen.

With October 19 approaching, we face a critical choice. One candidate for Premier, John Rustad, has demonstrated a lack of respect for our public school system. He views schools as places of indoctrination and has told us in no uncertain terms that he supports increasing class sizes and giving more funding to private schools. Rustad—a former cabinet minister under Christy Clark’s BC Liberal government—supported policies that would strip teachers of their collective bargaining rights, and pressured educators and support staff to sign a 10-year deal with minimal salary increases. Rustad also stood against education workers in 2014, when teachers went on strike to protect their fundamental right to bargain for fair working conditions.

When we look at the platforms of the parties seeking to govern our province, we are encouraged to see three significant commitments in the BC NDP platform that we think are game changers.

1. A full-time counsellor in every school. The current 693:1 student-to-counsellor ratio leaves many schools with only part-time counselling support—often only one or two days per week. This promise from David Eby addresses the urgent need for mental health support by committing to additional funding. It won’t happen overnight, but the plan is fully costed, and the BC NDP is working with our two unions to make it happen through ongoing collaboration at Ministry tables.
2. A full-time education assistant (EA) in each K–3 classroom. We all know that early intervention is key, and every kid deserves a strong start with the support of a dedicated team of educators. Adding an EA to every K–3 classroom will support all learners, creating classrooms that are safe, accessible, and conducive to meaningful learning.
3. Public delivery of affordable before- and after-school care in every school district. This commitment aligns closely with CUPE BC’s longstanding advocacy for a Seamless Day childcare model that uses existing public-school infrastructure and education support staff to provide much-needed, accessible childcare for families across the province.

Of course, these commitments must go hand-in-hand with a thoughtful, measurable, and long-term response to teacher and support staff shortages. These discussions are ongoing, and the BCTF and CUPE BC are actively participating in education sector working groups and engaging with the Ministry of Education and Child Care. We will continue to advocate for meaningful strategies to address the shortages and ensure sustainable staffing in our schools.

We understand that some of you may feel skeptical of politicians’ promises, especially when they don’t always result in meaningful change. But remember: the Premier we elect on October 19 will appoint the next Minister of Education and Child Care, and the party that wins will be sitting across from us at the bargaining table. For that reason alone, we cannot afford to sit this one out. We encourage you to engage, learn about the candidates in your riding, and prioritize getting out to the polls on Saturday.

We also know that in some ridings, there may be a former BC United or Green Party candidate for whom it may be strategic to vote. We hope you’ll take the time to determining our best bet to defeat the BC Conservative Party. If you’re interested, check out act.bctf.ca/iteachivote or votewithworkers.ca/checktherecord, where we have information on the two main parties’ positions on issues that matter to our members.

Friends, our public schools are so important, and the work you do is invaluable. For kids, it makes the difference between an education journey that meets only the basic needs, and one that allows students to be safe, dream, thrive, and build a better world.

We hope you’ll join us in casting your ballot on October 19.

In solidarity,

Clint Johnston                     Karen Ranalletta

BCTF President                  CUPE BC President