An Open Letter to the Toronto Star and Globe and Mail, Re: Teacher Collective Bargaining Coverage
Dear Editors,
I don’t suppose you’d be interested in some ideas for responsible journalistic pieces, would you? How about ones that could increase readership and ad sales?
While I realize that I’m not in charge of the newsroom of national publication such as yours, I am a former columnist for a couple of small newspapers. I’m also a communications consultant that specializes in garnering media representation for small NGO’s. I do know a little about what makes print outlets tick. And I do have a knack for creating content that people like to read. Or so I’ve heard.
But on to my ideas.
Throughout the recent labour disagreement between the Ontario Secondary School Teacher’s Federation and the Government of Ontario, I’ve read plenty about calls for teacher wage increases in the (web) pages of your publications, but very little about the fact that the Teachers Union actually offered pay freezes during several stages of the negotiation process. I’ve read about sick day payouts at retirement, but nothing about how this has already been scrapped by many of the Boards and is already being grandfathered out by the others. Sure, I know that this is usually just alluded to, or is delivered in quotes by others, but it is still prevalent. Meanwhile, coverage of post-legislative actions on the part of teachers has also been one-sided. A Star article from today, for instance, reads: “Two York Region school boards… have scrapped after-school sports.” It fails to mention that there are a total of 34 secondary schools in that particular Board.
I know that ad revenue depends on a certain amount of pot-stirring, but shouldn’t unbiased reporting come first? Here’s the thing though — here’s your ace in the hole: In this case, with the huge numbers of teachers (and people sympathetic to teachers) representing a massive readership, a less-biased coverage of events may, in fact, lead to an increase of hits, clickthroughs, and advertizing opportunities. And if teachers, educators, and school board employees are as well-off as they are portrayed to be in your papers, then you’ll be encouraging an audience of readers with vast disposable incomes. Realistically, of course, they’re not that well-off. But they do represent a large number of professionals with respectable salaries. Just the type of audience your advertizing clients must like.
With that in mind, a few suggestions:
It would be informative to read an article about the misconstrued facts and arguments of this labour disagreement. You could report on what teachers actually make rather than the wildly inflated numbers that are regularly tossed around. Or provide a researched study on the number of hours that teachers work per day, and per week, and how that compares to workers in other sectors. How about a comparison report on teacher salaries vs. those of other professionals with 5-6 years of post-secondary education (you could add to this the number of teachers who have gone on to get their Masters degrees in hopes of hanging on to a job in a rapidly disappearing work environment and point out the number of teachers with 7-8 years of education). You could do a focus piece on the number of teachers eligible for sick day retirement payouts versus the number of teachers who are not, exposing the budgetary myth that these government claims represent. You could do another piece on the large number of schools and the thousands of teachers who continue, even now, to do extra-curricular work, and why. Certainly there is space for a story on the major society-wide ramifications of removing a constitutionally protected right to collective bargaining. This is a precedent, really, that could affect people in every union of the province — both private and public sector. And, man, what a story there is there.
Not entirely surprising, current Star and Globe coverage is somewhat similar to that of the previous two rounds of collective bargaining negotiations (under the Tories and Liberals) when the Union kept saying “class sizes” and you kept printing “wage increases.”
The way I see it, and I’m sure I’m not the only writer/communications expert to think this way, stories like those suggested above would still rile people up. They would still feed the comment sections. And they would probably still keep the advertizers satisfied through angry web hits and teeth-gnashing print sales (a rarity in this new age of newspaper journalism). The difference is, is that the op-ed columns and comment sections might actually contain a few more relevant facts. A spin-off would be that the content would be refreshing to many of your readers. Particularly the ones who feel under-served by the surface-level reporting that is currently being offered.
Listen, a lot of us understand that print journalism is hurting right now — that newspapers are losing out to the large numbers of people who are getting their news primarily from the web. We understand that your budgets are slashed and that your newsroom staff have less time to do primary research and interviews. But, really, if you are forced into superficial coverage, where it is cheap and easy to just print the sound bites, media scrum platitudes, and quickly rewritten media releases, could you not at least take the time to balance it out by regurgitating both streams of the argument? Sure, the scrums at Queen’s Park are both sexier and easier to find, but I am confident that you are just as able to quote the Union’s Communication’s Officer as you are the Province’s.
At the same time, it would make for better reading, healthier debate, and, while I know this isn’t at the top of your list, a better sense of journalistic integrity.
It would make your news, well… newsworthy.
Wouldn’t that be something?
As an aside, I do find it odd that both of your publications take such delight in casting Toronto Mayor, Rob Ford, as a populist leader (and, really, I can’t argue with that) while at the same time taking a strongly populist journalistic stance on how you report on the issue of education and this current labour disagreement.
I almost feel like I should be asking you for a ride to football practice.
102 thoughts on “An Open Letter to the Toronto Star and Globe and Mail, Re: Teacher Collective Bargaining Coverage”
Comments are closed.
No the issues haven’t been mentioned, Jen. So you as a teacher Jen tell me your issue, enlighten me Jen.
Um, well David, like I said in my first post, I don’t like my rights being trampled and I’d like them back.
I HAVE great benefits and a good salary, and as far as my working hours, I work a lot, but I love my job and put in the hours willingly.
Too bad such a small percentage of the population actually knows how much of my job I do VOLUNTARILY, because I like doing it and I want to….and an even smaller percentage appreciates it.
VOLUNTARILY. Good for you. I volunteer too. What rights were trampled? Your right to get a raise or your right to strike. Fill me in?
By the way we don’t care how much of YOUR job you do VOLUNTARILY. You took the job, not me. And the fact that you said you do it willingly then had to tell me about the population that knows how much you do voluntarily tell me there is some bitterness.
I am not a teacher, but a parent, and after reading all of the comments, the common thread is everyone thinks this is about the teachers and the school boards, or the teachers wanting more. The whole crux of what is going on, is that the government by passed negotiations. This is supposed to be a democratic country, not communist. Wake up people, if the government gets away with this just once, what and who is next. It is not about money or sick time, these things can be negotiated if and only if we have the right to negotiate.
Patricia guess who didn’t want anyone playing in there sandbox?
The issue is that Bill 115 is an umbrella piece of legislation that will impact EVERYONE in Ontario. It starts with teachers… Then who’s next? That is biggest problem. It’s not “boo hoo teachers” it’s “boo hoo Ontario”. Perhaps “boo hoo Canada”? I am not impressed with our government and am doing something about it (as is my right as a Canadian… for now). It will come to the point where I may choose to relocate if possible. There are other provinces that are looking quite appealing. Or perhaps teaching abroad.
We do not want medals or awards for the volunteering we do. But everyone appreciates being appreciated and not bullied by Broten or McGuinty when they decide to take a break. I think a lot of people do not volunteer. Those who do (including you) are terrific and someone somewhere values that. No one should ever be taken for granted and that is another thing that is happening everywhere at the moment. Unfortunately, teachers are in the spotlight currently so it is what it is.
Another big problem is that there are people who are not willing to do some research into the big issues of the day and figure it out. Research as in going to primary sources and looking into data, quotes, legislation, etc. Donald started it off with his piece questioning why Globe and Star and other media outlets are not writing various pieces with enough accuracy.
And just a snark – their = there. My inner teacher coming out David 😉 Although nowadays we go more for ideas rather than proper spelling. You would be safe! Level 2 or maybe 3? Depending on rubrics and success criteria. Is that gibberish? Sure was not how I was taught but things change and we’ve adapted to our curriculum jargon.
Have a great day everyone! It’s FRIDAY! 🙂
Jen, wow good for you and your spelling or grammar lesson. I am not in school don’t give a rats ass about you and your lessons. To me finding short comings in people or trying to be-little them is a pretty darn good bullying tactic. You and your friends the teachers are really good at when it comes contract time.
If WE don’t get what we want the kids won’t have there extracuricullar activities ect…, you guys do it all the time. Every contract. EVERY contract. Lets research that fact.
And good for you it is friday, lucky you, YOU get the weekends off. Some of us have to work weekends and work for a living.
By the way there might be grammar, paragraph, comprehension errors in here, make light of it and bully me some more TEACHER.
*sigh* Jen, you’re right – it’s Friday. We should have a great day.
Maybe I am bitter. I was raised in a home where “thank you” were so easy to say, and they made everyone feel good about themselves. I don’t hear that very often. Instead, I get people calling me greedy, lazy, and other words I don’t care to repeat here. They don’t know me, they don’t know anything about me, and they are judging me. I wonder how they would feel if the tables were turned. Walk a mile in my moccasins and such.
David, it seems your mind is closed to all the facts that many people here have tried to share with you. There is obviously nothing I nor anyone else can tell you that you don’t already know everything about.
I only hope Bill 115 is defeated in court before it affects you and your family. Because if it isn’t, I guarantee you it will.
This post has had 124 553 hits (as of yesterday at 3pm), including over 83 000 over roughly a 2 day period (note to self, enable your daily stats in order to get hourly hit counts). The post spent time on page 2 of the Google search of the issue — placing it ahead of actual Star articles written at the same time.
I’m used to some pretty good spikes — my piece on the dismantling of the Wheat Board generated some similar numbers, though over a much longer period. My piece on Sidney Crosby Fan backlash remains my usual top hit generator and remains on page one of a Google search for “Sidney Crosby fan” (again, without quotation marks in the search bar) — 6 months after I wrote it. A number of my posts get attention across the country.
But this quick avalanche of hits on an independent blog (imagine the hit count if it were on a mainstream site) is an indicator of the interest, passion, and anger that stems from this labour dispute.
Here are my suggestions for harnessing some of this societal interest:
1. Write to your favourite newspaper/news website (local, provincial, or national) and ask for an accurate story on issues such as the true amount of teacher salaries (in comparison to other careers with 6 years of education) vs. what we read in print; the grandfathering of sick day payouts that currently exists; how the collective bargaining opened (when the Union sent union reps and the Province sent lawyers); the bargaining of wage-freezes during contract negotiations; the potential ramifications of not allowing collective bargaining freedoms on unions of every sector.
Please note, I’m not suggesting a biased story here. Really, shouldn’t both sides of this argument be in favour of having these numbers, stats, and actual negotiation facts printed? Shouldn’t we be more interested in facts than in bias?
2. Write your MPP and ask for clarification on these issues. Or call him/her.
3. Talk to your kids (if you have any). Explain the issues. Explain that teacher protests do not exist to punish them any more than an auto strike is meant to punish drivers, dealerships, or cars (bad, car! bad, bad car!). Or a doctor’s strike to punish patients. Encourage them to learn about collective bargaining and constitutional freedoms. Encourage them to read about Bill 115 and the potential effects on every sector, not just education. Encourage them to deeply explore the issues and to make up their own minds about the current situation. And tell them that it is their right to protest this issue as well. Their well-researched voices should be heard — whichever side they ultimately choose to take.
While I am a fan of dialogue, I’m going to let the comment section fend for itself on this post. Unfortunately, I have other projects to move on to.
Please note, though, that the comment section of the blog is moderated. I approve comments before they appear here — and I have approved each and every comment that has come in. I believe in people hearing all sides of an issue. That said, a continuation of personal attacks, and it matters not which side of the argument the commenter is on, will lead to a blocking of those comments.
Play nice, kids. Your arguments will be better appreciated (and believed) if they are polite.
Donald Fraser I am glad that you mentioned “continuation of personal attacks, and it matters not which side of the argument the commenter is on, will lead to a blocking of those comments.” I think when this happens towards people it is because they either know 1) they are in the wrong or 2) believe that belittling people is the best way to bully their point across (Jen)
K8 – by saying someone’s mind is closed is silly! Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and by stating that a person’s mind is closed shows the same about you.
This topic is definitely a HOT one but EVERYONE try and remember your manners – as K8 no nicely pointed out – this is why a lot of people would refrain from commenting about this topic or to support other comments on here for fear of an attack themselves.
Enjoy the wonderful weather this weekend and try to move on!
… you really have some issues, with everyone who has a comment. As for sandbox playing, would you let an accountant work on your teeth? I dont think so, so why would we let the government control our teachers. They know about the education system as an accountant would about teeth. I know you will reply to this, because you have little else to do with your time. I unfortunately have work to do and will not reply to any of your further posts as it would be a waste of my time, since you are negative and no one is going to change you, nor should they, as that is your right, unless the government steps in and changes that too.
k8,
Not going to affect my children, they attend the catholic board and last I checked they let everyone play in their sand box.
The only time the teachers hit the news is around contract time. To funny!!!
One more thing k8, I would love you to walk a mile in my shoes, or even 100 feet, you wouldn’t survive. Haven’t had a raise since last year, won’t get one until 2014. I don’t complain.
@ Arin – read David’s posts and tell me his mind isn’t closed. He doesn’t want to believe cold hard facts written in front of him, ones that can be confirmed by a simple Google search.
@ David – don’t think for one second that this won’t affect the Catholic Schools. First of all, the MOU was ratified by only 7 members of the Provincial Executives, NOT by the entire membership of approximately 45,000 teachers. You can’t possibly think they are happy with this.
Why do you keep coming back to me getting a raise? As if that is the issue? How many times do we have to tell you THIS IS NOT ABOUT MONEY.
I have already stated that I have a great salary, I’m not complaining, and I’m not asking for any more. Not that it matters, but in the four Collective Agreements I’ve worked under, only ONE of them included COLA raises.
I am asking for my Constitutionally-given rights to be returned to me and my fellow teachers. I do this, because our Premier and his government have already stated that they will not stop with just us.
Perhaps if you won’t listen to me, a “boohoo” teacher, you’ll listen to the Canadian Civil Liberties Association. Here’s the transcript of their presentation to Queen’s Park two weeks ago:
http://ccla.org/2012/09/06/cclas-submissions-re-ontario-bill-115/
If you don’t want to read it, here’s the YouTube video of the press conference on August 30th, outlining why Bill 115 is unconstitutional, and why they will help fight it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoJpQndp7G8
K8,
What are your rights that are being violated? Your constitonal rights or a charter arguement?
Is it the right to hold me, the tax paying public over a barrell, force your beliefs on people like me and bully me? Use students to do your dirty work.
If it is your right to collective bargaining, please for the love of God tell me what it is you want to bargain for. If it isn’t money or a sick bank tell me what you want.
Give you back your right to colective baragaining what do YOU the TEACHERwant.
Please tell us!
i teach. i do NOT want a raise. i do NOT want more of anything. i want the right to be able to have a right to negotiate my contract. a general option for most people who work in the private sector (including my spouse) is to “negotiate” a contract before they accept a job, and with performance reviews yearly, are often granted a salary increase. even a student in high school, working at a fast food restaurant, has the ability to see a pay increase with a good performance evaluation. if i get 100% of my students to pass my classes, i get no such reward. but, i love my job and the job satisfaction of seeing students succeed. it was my choice to do what I do, and anyone else who has the proper qualifications can teach as well. I welcome all the “teacher haters” out there to go back to get the proper qualifications and join the luxury lifestyle we have. what’s stopping you? by the way….teachers are tax payers too 😉
I read this example somewhere online and think it was decent so I’ll do my best to share.
The relationship between teachers and their employers (school boards) is like that between parents and their children. Parents set guidelines, curfews, chores, and allowance. Parents and their kids try to have an open dialogue as the kids grow etc. Sometimes kids will push and get more allowance for more chores or a later curfew for being responsible. Hopefully they communicate and talks go back and forth each side showing their reasons why they want what they want.
So then imagine the people who the parents work for decide to come in to the house and suddenly they are the ones to make all the rules and neither parents nor kids have any say in the matter.
The government in this case is the one who pays the parents who is the school board and the kids are the teachers.
Wouldn’t you be frustrated? The school boards are right now as are the teachers. The way they talked things through for years is now not possible.
From what I think I know from friends who teach:
As for what teachers bargain for – each local is different. Sometimes it’s a matter of making hiring process more fair for supply teachers. Sometimes it’s making an already existing policy a bit better worded. Yes of course there is the pay grid which places teachers depending on years of education and years of experience. And there will be a section on personal days and sick days. It all depends on each school boards budget.
Whenever a contract is up for renewal in any workplace wouldn’t you expect the employer and employee to work together to make things better? I wouldn’t think most people want to go back in time or have things worse for them the next round. Staying the same is one thing but to have things change ridiculously is not good for anyone!
I hope this made sense…
David – don’t even talk to me about weekends. I have spent years working shift work, more than one job, and know all about weekends. I was excited for Friday because come weekend, I finally get the choice to work from home, see my husband (who works 6 or sometimes 7 days a week), and do the “whip the house into shape” routine. You are lucky to see the prospects of a raise in 2014 because he will NEVER see one again. Who else is in that boat?
You speak about bullying? Bullying is when something happens over and over again with an imbalance of power between the two parties. You have been name calling since the start of Donald’s post. Calling teachers selfish, greedy, and bullies. Are you kidding me? I corrected one spelling error and you call me a bully? Forgive me because I didn’t realize you would be upset.
It’s been engrained in me from my dad (auto industry factory worker) to try to improve oneself and their/there is a personal pet peeve that I need to tackle. I actually do it to my husband and get flack for it too so seriously sorry if you felt attacked!
I’m going to put energies into more government and friends/family because unfortunately David you truly seem to not get the main idea in all these threads. I’m so sorry somewhere in your life you were wronged by someone who made you bitter towards unions or teachers or some sort of person in the middle. I wish the best for you and your family. I’ll keep on fighting for everyone – including you.
I’m with Jen – you aren’t worth my time. I cannot correct the ills done you by another person to make you so bitter about teachers. Good luck to you and yours.
WOW Jen and k8,
Still haven’t answered my question because we all know the answer, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BARGAIN FOR?
(insert cricket counds here)
Either it is money you are after or your big powerful union hasn’t told you what to say.
The bitterness about teachers has been brought on by none other than TEACHERS.
That will be my last post because you will never answer the question on everyones mind. What do you want to bargain for?
So lives in your little fantasy worlds and realize that it is a lot more than just myself that is less than pleased with the teachers, if you don’t think so just read the comment sections of many newspapers with articles written about the teachers.
Sorry missed your post LDR, last one. Promise. Why do you want the right to negotiate if you don’t want anything? Enlighten us.
David, you still aren’t getting it. Jen and K8 don’t want to bargain FOR anything, they want the OPTION to be able to do so. I doubt you’ll get it even in such simplistic terms. I think you simply want to argue. You are what my Dad would call “a pot stirrer”
Trevor, that was a fantastic analogy, thanks for that!
I think what teachers fail to realize is how badly their union portrays them to the public. The union did walk away earlier and went on T.V, and every media outlet they could find to proclaim what the government was offering as “insulting”. The problem is the public image. The mouthpieces that were interviewed during the one hour protest(seriously stressed yourselves out with that one hour protest where only 3 percent of teachers actually showed up, but that is a different subject all together), uttered catch phrases . It was obvious they had no independent thought about the matter and just keep the mantra of “students will see repercussions”, “teacher burnout”, and so on. Not one interview from t.v. or the live stream had any teacher talking intelligently about the matter. It was “today it’s us, tomorrow it’s you” and that does not jive with people. You needed to have calm , rational people explaining why it matters. For God’s sake, you are teachers, teach the public why this matters if it truly does. How you came across was “that’s mine, don’t touch” temper tantrum which has now seeped into classrooms in some schools. I’ve read the articles. I’ve read the teachers facebook pages. I’m STILL not convinced the government overstepped their bounds here. You belong to the taxpayers. The taxpayers have no say in negotiations either.
@Mandl
1) Collective bargaining is with the employer, which, in this case, are the school boards. The government took away the ability for the unions AND the school boards to negotiate. This is not a technicality; it is the correct format according to the Ontario Labour Relations Act.
2) What? Doesn’t the government know this?? Yes, but have decided to make this unconstitutional and illegal law anyway. It is so serious that the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (no relation to any of the teachers unions) is planning to challenge the legislation in court.
3) When the unions got the plan from the government, it was presented by three bankruptcy lawyers. No Minister. Nobody from the Ministry. Nobody accountable from the government. There was no plan or intention by the government to have any kind of negotiation. OSSTF and ETFO recognized this, and moved forward.
This fight is not the teachers alone. The boards and their trustees know that Bill 115 is bad for education, bad for kids, and bad for teachers.
The Ontario Public School Boards Association (OPSBA) also are fighting this bill:
http://www.opsba.org/index.php?q=system/files/SpeakingNotes20120905_OPSBASubmissionBill115PuttingStudentsFirstAct.pdf
And we are all ignoring the elephant in the room: the province would save an estimated $1.5 BILLION a year if the English Catholic and public boards merged.
@ David — I don’t want anything right now. I want the “right” to be able to negotiate when things need to be negotiated. Whether that be about money (yes I said money), the hiring process for occasional teachers, benefits or any other thing that any employed person would like to have a say in. They saying goes “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. However, when something becomes broken, I would like the right to have it fixed.
LDR,
Well the bill is for 2 years. The time the government asked you greedy, money hunger teachers to take a pay freeze. Negotiate after the pay freeze when the bill expires. Until then enjoy no pay raise like the rest of us civil servants. That simple. You want nothing no need to negotiate for nothing.
It seems here that all the teachers are angered by the fact that this bill removes your right to negotiate.
Here’s the thing. I don’t have the right to negotiate either. My employer employs tens of thousands of employees across Canada. My salary…take it or leave…my benefits…take it or leave…holidays….take it or leave…sick days…take it or leave. You get the gist here. I really don’t have much in terms of negotiation and I would say that this is likely the same thing for everyone, unless you work for a small company where policies are not set in stone as they are in larger companies. My options really are, take what they’ll give or find employment elsewhere….hard when the company I work for is one of two companies in my field. Accordingly, my attitude towards the whole situation is of the same…if you don’t like it…leave…you can work for another board, or perhaps work for a private school or maybe a learning centre. Furthermore, my next question is: why should you have this right and no one else? Like I said…I don’t have this right? In theory I might…but in reality I don’t. And if you all think I’m speaking from the perspective of admin staff or something…I’m not. I have 7 years of university education.
The second argument that I hear frequently, perhaps not specifically related to this particular bill, is how underpaid teachers are. I ask you teachers to provide me with another sector where the private sector pays less, has less benefits etc. than the public sector (this information regarding lower payment is according to my teacher friends). In general, the private sector always pays more. I’m not interested in comparing teachers to other jobs because arguments can be made both ways. In this case, I’m comparing teachers in the private sector to teachers in the public sector. The public sector for teachers pays more (again according to the info I have received from my teacher friends). Please find me another profession where the same occurs. I’d be really interested to know, because I honestly can’t think of one.
@Darlene, you make some very good points.
Yes, many Ontarians are not unionized. However, most professional groups are. With 7 years university, I am surprised that you are not in one of these professional groups.
There *is* no “other board” to go to since Bill 115 affects ALL public school system. The only choice is to move out or province or out of country — one more example of ‘brain drain’ for Ontario. Private school? I started my career in a private school, where the pay was exactly the same but the working conditions were NOT. While there was no union there to protect me, the classroom support was amazing — no stoned or drunk kids, no kids swearing at you, no kids with special needs….
As I said above, the pay at the private school I worked at is on the same grid as my current pay. The reason it *used* to be lower, was that private schools were able to hire UNQUALIFIED teachers to reduce costs (which has changed since 2000). Is that good for education?
I found this at another site (NOT my post):
——————-
This just in:
The government has just passed the “private sector debt repayment act.” This new act requires all you private sector employees to work two extra hours a day and forfeit the pay to the government to help pay down the debt.
Don’t like it? Lump it. The unions are now effectively powerless to help you and you are either too naive or to ignorant to help yourselves.
Now, obviously this hasn’t happened, but what’s to stop it?
And while we are on the subject, what are you, as private sector employees, doing to help repay the debt. I mean, you partake of this province’s social programs such as free health care, free education, massively subsidized post secondary education, subsidized day care. Many of you partake of Ontario works.
Don’t spout off saying you pay taxes. Everyone pays taxes. Why is it a,ways up to “public servants” to bear the brunt of this crap?
Hey Garth,
I am a civil servant as well, I pay taxes and we have chosen to accept the pay freeze for 2 years. Private sector employees don’t have the same perks and benefits as we do. So my friend if Darlene wants to tell you to like it or lump it do it.
We as Ontarians all have the same government programs.
We civil servants make a lot more than a lot of people in the province. So my civil servant friend Darlene is entitled to her opinion like I. You definitely are the stereotypical example of a greedy, over paid, lazy teacher.
I make less than you do and I can sure as heck tell you I work a lot harder than you do.
PS Garth,
Don’t lump all us “civil servants” with you teacher “civil servants.”
@Garth
Really most professional groups are unionized? Ummm…no….lawyers, architects, accountants, engineers, financial analysts, human resources…I can keep going…are not unionized….I’m pretty sure that chiropractors, dentists and optometrists are also not unionized…I’ll have to get back to you on that as I’m not sure how their payment from insurance companies is negotiated.
Perhaps you’ve confused it with the governing bodies of these professionals. There is a difference between a regulating/governing body…ie. a body that ensures that professionals meet their defined standards and a union.
Also not to sound brash, but it seems that teachers have this fantasy that we all leave at 5pm and we have it so easy….ummmm once again no….in reality…most professionals work much longer than that….in my office…it’s only the support/admin staff, call centre employees, and the tech people who leave at 5. So when you say that you do all of this extra work…so does everyone else…except…they do it 50 weeks out of the year. And please don’t tell me that you don’t get paid during the summer because we all know that’s a bunch of B.S. And if you really need me to tell you why its BS….then it definitely calls into question your intellect as an educated person.
As for the payment of teachers in the public sector vs. teachers in the private sector. I stand corrected. However, it sounds like teachers have another option. If you don’t like it, work for a private school.
Secondly, with respect to your post above regarding the “private sector debt repayment program”. One thing that you have to understand is that the government is your employer. Just like abc corporation is my employer. When abc employer lays off 1000 employees…who do you think takes the brunt of the work. The work doesn’t just dissipate…someone needs to do it….and who do you think does that? The people left behind. Yes, it’s annoying. But you know what? I don’t complain. Why is it that I don’t complain…because at least I’m not one of those 1000 people and I actually have a job. Furthermore to my point, at least they’re not laying off teachers like they would have, if it was a real corporation. Side note: that’s the appropriate comparison/analogy…not the silly parent child analogy as someone else on this blog commented.
All I’m saying here is that teachers have it really good and don’t realize how good they have it. I understand the issue regarding their right to collectively bargain, but honestly I think the complaint is a weak one for the aforementioned reason….no one else does either. In theory we might…but in reality we don’t. In other words, the government is putting you in the same position as the rest of us.
Another side note regarding that silly analogy of a “private sector debt repayment program”…the government does it all the time…it’s called higher taxes!!!!! If you need an economics lesson as to why the government is not doing that, (it’s likely a political reason as well)..let me know…I’d be more than happy to provide one.
Here are several options the Liberals had to deal with the debt:
1. Actually BUILD the $180 million power plant and put it into operation so that instead of being a black hole for Ontario Taxpayers’ dollars, it EARNS them money.
2. Or don’t build it and SAVE the money. Take your pick.
3. Stay the heck out of the ORNGE scandal (or at least hold them accountable for the BILLION plus dollars they cost taxpayers)
4. Fabricate a crisis in education, and legislate the teachers back to work, all the while spouting platitudes about “stability in education”. Take away their right to bargain or strike and ignore the fact that those things are part of the Charter of Rights. Threaten every other unionized civil servant in the province with the same. Talk about a pay freeze (that the teachers had already agreed to) and cancel some sick days, all of which MIGHT, if they’re lucky, save them a few dollars (as in LESS than $10 million).
I may be a “greedy, lazy” teacher, but my business background is telling me that the solution cannot lie solely with education. You cannot save enough money off of teachers unless you DO start laying them all off.
But then, the rest of the taxpayers would be mad, since it would be their children who suffered in classes of 30-35 students.
Really the long and the short of it, is in every single job there are pros and cons. As a teacher I enjoy a good salary, summers off, good comradery with my colleagues and of course seeing success in my students. I don’t however enjoy the attitude and disrespect I deal with on a daily basis, but that is part and parcel with the job. (I always have to laugh at the end of August when I hear so many parents saying “I’m so glad school is starting. I couldn’t handle another day with my kids at home!”) I would consider my spouse’s job of fancy dinners, global travel, year-end bonuses and a lot of things “paid for by the company” pretty sweet, but I see the stress of deadlines and job cuts and think “No way that’s not for me!” Regardless of what anyone of us does, we all have the right to be frustrated or upset about changes made regarding our job situation, even if others dont agree with it. If someone was given a company vehicle to drive at no cost to them, and then changes were made and they had to pay 50% of the cost I can understand why that person would be upset. I could go on and on that I don’t get a car, or gas money all I want, but the point is, I can’t deny someone the right to express their feelings.
LDR,
Way to deflect, at the end of the day you are still a greedy teacher! To late for sympathy now. You teachers did it to yourselves.
I would much rather have my child learn from me than someone like you!
Hey marysue,
Last time I checked it was students fundamental right to education. If children don’t attend school what happens? Look it up in the education act section 21. So that being said strike all you want and don’t summons the children summons the teachers. It is all about money and nothing to do with your “Rights”.
Teachers are making themselves look worse with silly comments like that!
Wow David……..your kids are lucky! Nice to see they are learning from Mr. Know It All.
@David, you know nothing about me or how many hours I work. Don’t presume to know me.
Ontario to freeze pay of 481,321 public sector workers
http://www.thespec.com/news/ontario/article/806803–ontario-to-freeze-pay-of-481-321-public-sector-workers
As predicted, teachers were just the beginning…
A final comment to all my teacher comrades.
Don’t let any these negative comments affect you. While we should continue this dialogue with non-teachers to share our understanding of the current issue, we should not be deterred by those who are ignorant of the challenges of our profession.
We all know how hard we work, the challenges that we face every day, and the pleasant burden it is to be a “teacher”. There is a reason why between 20 – 40% of new teachers quit within four years of starting, and we know why that is. Most of my graduating class circle of friends (in the science/math field) have moved on to “better” jobs. To be a teacher is not a profession, but a vocation.
Thank you for not resorting to childish name calling and other abusive tactics. The anonymity of the web allows bullies to not be accountable for their actions. You have to rise above such petty attacks.
Good luck in the coming months. Continue your care of our most vulnerable and important members of society in loco parentis. Continue your invaluable contribution to society, even when some ignorant of the important work you do. At the end of the day, your students are the one’s that matter, and THEY know how much you matter.
LDR,
Can’t be a Mr Know it all. I am not a whining sniffling teacher that thinks I know it all. But hey keep up the good fight. Try and put the bolts to Ontario Tax Payers. Everyone is getting fed up. Read what people are saying on other forms about you guys.
If you think all teachers are greedy and sniffling, I guess the next time a kid asks me to spend my lunch hour helping them understand concepts, I should say “no I can’t. I’m greedy and selfish and want the whole lunch hour to myself”. Or when a kid says to me that they didn’t bring any lunch because they didn’t have a lot of food at home, I better hide mine and not share anymore, or forget about taking that kid to the caf to get them a sandwich. Or better yet, tell the kids on the teams I coach that “I’ve got 2 very young kids of my own at home. I see them for about 3 hrs a day. I’m going to be selfish now and decide to spend time with my own family, not you guys”. If you think teachers are such bad people, I’ve got two words for you – home school.
LDR,
Sorry you are a super hero!!! Wow, great, selfish and a Saint!!! I sure hope you get paid for your lunch for providing extra help. And you wouldn’t dare eat during a prep class.
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1263939–walkom-ontario-restraint-bill-much-more-than-two-year-wage-freeze
If you think that ALL these civil servants are going to continue to do their jobs with a wink and a smile after this, you are delusional. This is the start of something way bigger than just teaching…and way scarier.
I have get get my greedy, lazy, self to work now so that I can hope to pay the mortgage while I still have a paycheque that covers it.
And yes, David, homeschool is always an option for you – since you seem to know more than everyone.
Marysue,
I know what I do, never claimed to know more. I get informed from all my teacher friends. Good bullying tactic though. Hope it works for you guys with the government and hope you don’t do it with the students.
@ David:
You write this…
“LDR,
Way to deflect, at the end of the day you are still a greedy teacher! To late for sympathy now. You teachers did it to yourselves.
I would much rather have my child learn from me than someone like you!”
…and call ME a bully????
The definition of a bully is “a blustering, quarrelsome, overbearing person who habitually badgers and intimidates”
I am not badgering you, nor do I think I’m being overbearing or intimidating. I’m merely trying to open your eyes to the other side of the argument.
You, on the other hand, are derogatory, belittling, and downright cruel to anyone who doesn’t share your opinion. I am sure that no one here thinks that I am the bully.
Wow Marysue so are you and your teacher friends. If we don’t agree with you!!! Now insert new words. Narrow minded. Have fun bullying other people!