It’s always
difficult belonging to a union when the industrial action you take hurts not
the rich capitalist bosses who are trying to rip the shirt off your back, but
an innocent third party who gets caught in the crossfire. It is particularly
difficult when you’re a teacher and it’s your students who get hurt, and not
the school board or the government. Where do your loyalties lie? To your
colleagues or your students?
Gary Mason
writes in the Globe this morning
about a teacher who is defying his union and upsetting his colleagues by
continuing to coach his girls’ soccer team rather than let them down and spoil
their year. Good for him!
Why has it
come to this? I haven’t been following BC teachers’ politics, but why can’t the
issue be settled by binding arbitration as in other provinces, or final-offer
arbitration as in other countries?
Much as I
love the climate out here, I have to say that the politics are often wacky!
I think a big part of the problem is the foolish tactics of the BCTF. Rather than openly saying "we're needing a raise and improved working conditions", they're claiming "we're doing this for the children."
ReplyDeleteI think everyone recognizes that it's nothing but rhetoric — but it leaves the BCTF red-faced when a teacher like the soccer coach does something that is actually for the children. How can they object, logically?
It's a pretty radicalized union, these days, and they've painted themselves into a corner, in my opinion. I wonder if something dramatic will happen?
BC has a reputation for being butty bananas.
ReplyDelete*nutty
DeleteYou know, I think we're a little bit butty, too.
ReplyDelete