It must be nice. Alberta teachers have thrown the lives of parents and students into chaos, yet they get to do it from home. No picket lines, no signs, just time off the clock.
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I’ve been in a union before, and my better half has gone through strikes in her past jobs. The rule was always clear: you show up at the line. That’s part of what standing together means. So, why are there no lines for the teachers?
The sidewalks of Kitscoty were picket-free on Monday morning. The answer is related to the union option they were supposedly given. Members were given the option to stay home or attend a rally in Edmonton. With apparently no strike pay, it’s not hard to guess which option most took.
Apparently, a 12 per cent raise and thousands of new positions already offered are still not enough. I understand how tough the classroom can be. I have special needs relatives and I know the pressure schools face from classroom size to disruptive students. But how does that hardship justify leaving families stranded?
Parents are scrambling for child-care, students are falling behind and many are just trying to keep up. I’ve personally been on the wrong end of three teacher interruptions over the years. Each time, it was students and families who paid the price, not the teachers.
One line I heard is that teachers want to be able to afford to “live” again.
The Calgary Board of Education lists the average ATA salary at $80,451, which is a fair living in most of Alberta, even in big cities.
So, if the government eventually steps in, I wouldn’t be surprised. The ATA will most likely also file a Charter challenge. However, in the end, this strike feels less about classrooms and more about union and provincial leadership losing touch with reality.
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