Ontario Teachers vs Government Standoff

[dipmicro]

My kids have no school tomorrow, not the end of the world in this household but I can see some other parents pretty upset about forced day off.

I myself am not going to take sides. Those who read me here before, know I am against blanket "right to strike" without consequences, but that's not this situation.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2013/01/09/ontario-elementary-teachers-announce-political-protest.html

[pigdog47]

I support teachers teaching. 

[dipmicro]

This update is an hour ago and the Labour Relations Board still did not make decision if walkout is illegal:

http://toronto.ctvnews.ca/toronto-breaking-news/schools-close-across-ontario-as-legality-of-strike-debated-1.1108254

Peel District School Board is encouraging parents to check for updates tonight and Friday morning to find out whether schools will be open.

don't get your hopes up:

Individual teachers could be fined up to $2,000 for illegal strike action. But since 92 per cent of the union voted last month in favour of a one-day walkout, it seems they're willing to take the chance.

...

Friday will not be the end of the planned protests.

[prior-of-verity*shake-hands-with-your-devil]

I support teachers teaching children that everyone has the right to stand up for themselves and the freedom to exercise that right.   

In many countries of this world workers have little to no rights. Striking is punishable by arrest and maybe even worse. Freedom does not really exist and the government controls the populace. We feel this is wrong, We profess that the freedom to stand up to governments or an employer is a human right. We support this freedom in other countries. So why is there one rule for them….and another for us? Workers have a right to collective bargaining and striking if necessary. This ‘freedom’ supersedes all other ‘inconveniences’.

''Our soldiers fight overseas' to instill freedom and rights,

stand on the battlefields of home and fight to keep them!''

—Mark Case

''Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet deprecate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground. They want rain without thunder and lightning.''

— Frederick Douglass

[zoomrr69]

If they break the law...

send EM to jail.....

[stevephinn2012]

 support teachers teaching children that everyone has the right to stand up for themselves and the freedom to exercise that right.  

Really? And yet Teachers have been told by the union that if they break union protocol of withdrawing extra curricular activities or if they don't walk out when told to do so they will be fined $500 a day by the union. What about a Teachers right to decide on their OWN what they want to do?

Really good article in the Sun (I know you hate the sun) about 2 weeks ago  about a teacher that had decided not to withdraw her support from the school ski team that she had coached for the past few years and the harassment that she was receiving from the union. The union's response was " We dictate what teachers do and will take all measure to make sure they stay in line".

I personally know many teachers who would love to be doing the extra curricular stuff with their students but are afraid of being "black balled" by the union and losing their jobs!

interesting perspective here

http://kinderscribbles.blogspot.ca/2013/01/a-wife-of-teachers-perspective.html?showComment=135784645...

[nuvistors]

Is there any other job with a weeks vacation at Christmas, aweeks vacation  in march, and  two Months vacation in the summer ?

All with extremely good pay.

123

[dipmicro]

It seems the teachers chickened out.

But the kids are already home. When I went to sleep at 2am, the news was still schools are closed.

I am not taking them to school because they changed their mind.

Just received phone broadcast from Niagara School Board at 9:35am that school is open and we should let them know. I am not sending my kids to school now and I am not calling anyone as it's not my mess.

From where I am standing, this is actually the worst outcome possible. I thought they had a backbone and were ready to stand up against government so they had my sympathies for a minute there. Not anymore. As I hate to say this, I am with the government on this one now.

Let's call the parent strike on Monday and who can afford it, don't send our kids to school to show the teachers what we think of their little stunt.

[stevephinn2012]

Is there any other job with a weeks vacation at Christmas, aweeks vacation  in march, and  two Months vacation in the summer ?

All with extremely good pay.

you forgot that they also have 2 weeks "sick" leave (reduced from 4 weeks--part of the big fight) that they can "bank" and retire early(up to about 6 months worth) without having to actually be SICK!

If I call in sick and the boss then saw me out shopping or something because i was not SICK I would be fired.

[valve37]

Is there any other job with a weeks vacation at Christmas, aweeks vacation  in march, and  two Months vacation in the summer ?

All with extremely good pay.

you forgot that they also have 2 weeks "sick" leave (reduced from 4 weeks--part of the big fight) that they can "bank" and retire early(up to about 6 months worth) without having to actually be SICK!

If I call in sick and the boss then saw me out shopping or something because i was not SICK I would be fired.

Run this one by him Steve.

"I have anal glucomia and so I can't see my azz coming into work today"

[dipmicro]

 support teachers teaching children that everyone has the right to stand up for themselves and the freedom to exercise that right.  

Really? And yet Teachers have been told by the union that if they break union protocol of withdrawing extra curricular activities or if they don't walk out when told to do so they will be fined $500 a day by the union. What about a Teachers right to decide on their OWN what they want to do?

Really good article in the Sun (I know you hate the sun) about 2 weeks ago  about a teacher that had decided not to withdraw her support from the school ski team that she had coached for the past few years and the harassment that she was receiving from the union. The union's response was " We dictate what teachers do and will take all measure to make sure they stay in line".

I personally know many teachers who would love to be doing the extra curricular stuff with their students but are afraid of being "black balled" by the union and losing their jobs!

interesting perspective here

http://kinderscribbles.blogspot.ca/2013/01/a-wife-of-teachers-perspective.html?showComment=135784645...

Members are afraid of their trade union who is supposed to protect them, very sad, although not surprising.

I think what really needs to be done is to start cracking up harassment, intimidation and bullying, indiscriminately from where it comes from: employer, coworker or trade union - and seriously start enforcing Labour Relations Act especially section 76.

[nuvistors]

 support teachers teaching children that everyone has the right to stand up for themselves and the freedom to exercise that right.  

Really? And yet Teachers have been told by the union that if they break union protocol of withdrawing extra curricular activities or if they don't walk out when told to do so they will be fined $500 a day by the union. What about a Teachers right to decide on their OWN what they want to do?

Really good article in the Sun (I know you hate the sun) about 2 weeks ago  about a teacher that had decided not to withdraw her support from the school ski team that she had coached for the past few years and the harassment that she was receiving from the union. The union's response was " We dictate what teachers do and will take all measure to make sure they stay in line".

This once again proves that most unions leadership is a bunch of bullying thugs who  are only looking out for themsleves, not the membership.

1232

[puckstopshere]

I support teachers teaching children that everyone has the right to stand up for themselves and the freedom to exercise that right.

Absoulutely right! 

Students, no matter their age, race, creed, color or background are entitled to an education under our countries laws. 

There is a place to fight for your rights.  It is called the courts.  If Dalton is in the wrong, then let the courts decide. 

[dipmicro]

This once again proves that most unions leadership is a bunch of bullying thugs who  are only looking out for themsleves, not the membership.

Nu, I would not generalize like this. I have been anti-union myself but after lot of consideration came to conclusion they may be actually useful if they work as designed to.

Trade Unions are powerful tools and any powerful tool can be abused if in hand of psychopath. I am against banning the Trade Unions, but rather preventing them from needlessly hurting people.

[puckstopshere]

Members are afraid of their trade union who is supposed to protect them, very sad, although not surprising.

At one time, employees were afraid of their employers - and with good reason.  Along came the union movement and changed all that.  Hooray!  It was needed.

Now, there has beena not-so-subtle shift.  Unions have replaced the dictatorial employers and bosses with a dictatorship of their own.  In many cases, they don't care who knows of this attitude.

As a manager, I had to deal with unions daily.  I had to deal with the shop steward dragging a crying employee into my office with a grievance form.  The form had yet to be signed by the employee.  She was told, in my presence, that she HAD TO sign it or she would lose all her rights as a union member.  She reluctantly signed - still in tears.  The lady didn't want to grieve.  Under gentle questioning, she said her supervisor had already resolved the problem - it was an issue with a fellow employee.  The union still filed the grievance.  It was eventually dropped after wasting a lot of time and money.

I worked in a lab in a food plant years ago.  It was next to the lunchroom and had a common air vent on the adjoining wall.  It was easy to hear what went on in that room.  This was at a time when the unions wanted to call a nation-wide one day strike.  The union rep. got up in front of a meeting of all the employees.  He said that the union was in favor of the strike - but the employees had the final vote.  He said that the vote would be taken one employee at a time.  One of the stewards would be recording each employee's name and how they voted.  HIs final words, before the vote - "anyone who votes against this strike will no longer exist as far as the union is concerned."

[puckstopshere]

Trade Unions are powerful tools and any powerful tool can be abused if in hand of psychopath. I am against banning the Trade Unions, but rather preventing them from needlessly hurting people.

As much as I have always had a bias against unions (35 years of experience will do that to you), I think there is a place for unions.  However, they need to be regulated by an appropriate set of labor laws that protects employees, unon and employer. 

The Diesel plant closing in London was a good example.  Employees should not have to fight to get what they are entitled to.  There should be clear laws in place defining a company's obligations to it's employees in the event that they close.  These should inlcude guaranteeing pensions, continuation of benefits for at least five years, accumulated sick pay and vacations and an appropriate severance pay.  Severance pay is currently calculated on an employees service.  This is as it should be under normal circumstances.  However, when the company is closing - higher standards should exist - based on seniority.  A person who has been with a company many years and is unlikely to get other work because of age should get special consideration. 

[bb_cool_stuff]

Everyone knows i am a Union Member. Just part of the job.

Have never needed their assistance, but its nice to know they are there should i need them.

I have always found our management team fair.

I mentioned one time we had a New Grad who came in with a real chip on her shoulder. Won't get into any incidents but she probably ran to the union steward weekly in her short tenure.

She had completed her thirteen weeks & was now part of the union. Seemed to amp up her attitude shortly after, became a real PIITA as she thought her job was secure.

Was dismissed, ran to the Union who in turn offered no assistance. Union deemed her a trouble maker.

Yes, Unions will protect employees from unreasonable employers but they will also offer assistance to protect employers from unreasonable employees.

[prior-of-verity*shake-hands-with-your-devil]

What about a Teachers right to decide on their OWN what they want to do?

92% voted for striking.

[zoomrr69]

Obey the Government..

Pay your taxes so they can hire Riot police..

Protest and the police will come and arrest you..beat you and run you over with horses or shoot rubber bullets and tear gas at you..

Work to pay the Overloads.......

Pay your taxes ..we need new jets...

No protests..no rights...

Winnipeg..1918

Workers are slaves to the system....union or not...

Work..we want helicopters now....

Work..we want to bail outs banks with your tax dollars..

work...we want to bail out auto makers...

[bb_cool_stuff]

I guess I've been lucky.

Other than a summer job bartending on a boat cruising Toronto Harbour. Owner was a real lunatic & i left after three days. At the time bartending jobs were not hard to find.

My only other full-time job was with Warner Music, then WEA & management, before i became a part of management, treated us great.

We had great perks & benefits without a union.