"Learning Conditions Criticized": Union v. District

While doing some research for my mini-inquiry project on special needs programs in BC, I came across this article which may spark some interest for the rest of you:

Learning Conditions Criticized by B.C. Teachers’ Federation

This article brings to light how many special needs students are dropped into regular classrooms without aids - one in seven BC classrooms has four or more students with special needs. I wish they would have defined 'Special Needs' for us - this phrase could mean anything from a child with ADD to one with Down’s Syndrome. I kept this discrepancy in mind while I read the rest of the article.

In this news piece, it seems as though the Union points its finger at the school districts for raising classroom sizes and not hiring enough aids/teachers to help with these students. I was a little taken aback by the amount of blame placed on the school district - in the district I worked with in Washington State, the federal government's lame education funding program left the schools with an incredibly limited budget. Teachers in the high school have no money for books, computers and supplies. More importantly, perhaps, the district does not have the proper funds to hire aids (for both ESL and special needs). It's rough, but the teachers make due, knowing that not even the union can help their specific case unless it's brought to DC.

Because I have not worked with the BC school system (nor any Canadian one, really) I was wondering how much power a district has on how to distribute funding. I also want to know what you think about the teachers federation in this case -- are they making a fuss over nothing or is this a battle they can win? Do they really help the school system? And, more importantly, do they help students?