A mediator appointed by the B.C. government to bring a negotiated end to the bitter teachers dispute describes his task as "mission impossible."
Charles Jago even wondered if he were the right man for the job after admitting he didn't have mediation experience.
"One would have to question the wisdom of the government for appointing someone like me," he said. "But I do have related skills and maybe the fact that mediation hasn't worked out very well in the past has influenced the thinking, that it's timely to take a new approach."
Education Minister George Abbott, who once mused that anyone appointed to mediate the dispute would need the ability to walk on water, said Jago brings "a remarkable skill set" to the issue.
Jago said he gave the job careful consideration before accepting because of the "sorry record" of negotiations.
"When I was first approached I described this as mission impossible, I think there are enormous barriers and the parties have not be able to agree in the past."
Jago is an academic with a doctorate in European history and is the former president of the University of Northern B.C. in Prince George.
Earlier this month, the Liberal government passed legislation that would impose a cooling off period, barring strikes and allowing the mediator to work out a contract between the BC Teachers Federation and the B.C. Public School Employers' Association.
The provincial government and BCTF have waged battle over teachers contracts for decades. The government has ended teachers disputes by imposing legislation several times during that period.
With that history in mind, Jago told reporters in a conference call from Prince George that he would give it his honest effort to bring more stability to the education system.
"But I'd be naive to say the outcome is going to be instantaneously positive," he said. "Am I hopeful? I can't say that I am, but will I give it an honest try? I will certainly say that I will do that."
Jago's comments are disheartening to BCTF president Susan Lambert.
"It seems to me that there's a predetermined end to this process, I can't think otherwise."
She said the fact he has little mediation experience makes it worse.
"Maybe (Jago) is echoing government's point of view, which is they don't want compromise, they just want to strip our collective agreement further and impose net zero on everything else."
The mediator's mandate does not give him the power to impose a contract and he has until August to reach an agreement.
The teachers have asked for a 15 per cent wage increase and Jago is able to find compensation improvements, but that will have to come with trade offs. The government said it won't budge off it's so-called net-zero mandate for public sector contracts.
Jago, who's an Order of Canada recipient, also author a 2006 report called Working Together to Improve Performance: preparing B.C.'s Public Education System for the Future.
Lambert said Wednesday his report shows he shares many of the government's views and he has purchased tickets to Liberal party golf fundraisers.
"This is a person who has ties to the Liberal party, doesn't have experience in labour relations, is an academic researcher and has no experience in the public education system."
Still, Lambert said the union will participate in the mediation process.
Jago said he's not a member of any political party, and purchased the golf tickets for two events for his entire team, for a total of $1000.
B.C.'s 41,000 teachers will vote in a two-phase process next month of an action plan that responds to the legislation ending their job action.
In the first phase of the vote, teachers will decide if they'll withdraw all voluntary extra-curricular activities, which could impact graduation events and sport activities. The second phase would include a future vote on full withdrawal of services.
Education Minister George Abbott said Jago has a solid track record in public administration and as a successful leader.
"All of these point to a remarkable combination of knowledge and experience that I hope will serve all of the parties well in hopefully making some progress in a dispute where there has been, to date, remarkably little progress."
Abbott said the government looked at a number of candidates and Jago kept coming to the top of the list.
Jago will be permitted to hire legal and labour experts to help him supplement any labour-relations concerns that arise. He'll be paid what other mediators make, or about $2,000 for each date he mediates the dispute.
The minister downplayed concerns about Jago's ties to the Liberals.
"To me that is of no significance in relation to what is a very distinguished track record in this province and in this nation."
