BC Teachers strike

[arff]

My Dad was a teacher and later school princal. He retired after 32 years. He has also been retired for quite a few years now.
Here is what I saw. Marking exams, reading kids assignments, doing report cards. Assisting at the school during kids events.
Where is Dad? School basketball,soccer,curling.

So yes they have the summer off,2 weeks at Christmas,spring break. Some conventions they attend.

I guess we all should think about those hours spent doing things for students on their own time away from their kids.

Just saying. From a son of a teacher.

 

[union bug]

Welcome to the discussion, glad you, as a parent, have been paying attention to an important issue that's been going on for the last 6 months that will affect your child's future. "THEY WANT MONEY? SH!T JUST GOT REAL!"

Yeah, they do want more money so they can be in line with other teachers in the country, but it's not the root of it. These PEOPLE who we've put in charge of our children's futures want to be treated with respect. They put in as many hours, deal with as much BS as anyone, and you want to throw them under a fuggin' bus? You have no idea.

The advertising is to point out that they want more than money. They want job security (not fired or relocated on a whim) and teachable classes (you try and make 30 teenagers "learn" something. I bet you couldn't either.)

You think being a teacher is just something you can do? Like a job at McDonalds or something? They went to college for 6 years, probably have student loans... I'm still paying off my 4 year program and I get paid more than a teacher with equivalent years of experience.

Their employer will not negotiate on their terms, so the teachers have been working without a contract for the last couple years. Teachers I know love their jobs. They spend their own money on supplies. They spend evenings and weekends marking and preparing for the days ahead.

So here's two points for you to think on: Your daughters teacher is a human, probably stressed out about the measly strike pay they're about to get, and you think they're horrible evil for "spreading propaganda"? Second, maybe you should think about how much you value your kids education a bit.

Haha,work 10 months, everymonth a PD day (we all know they are not in a meeting), Long week end, spring break, X'mas break. They want respect? They have to earn our respect by doing their job right. The teachers may working without contract but they got pay. Job security is only happen with union and union has no different than gangsters in Canada. Tell me who else got a life job gurantee.

 

[Polarblu]

Im positive that after these three days, the pissing match will be over as they have to go back or tender a resignation. This clause in the contract was put in place to make sure we didnt run into the same gong show that happened in the 90's. Its talk to go away, those that do tender a notice loose everything they have worked for. It will happen for a few that can afford it from a dual income family, but 90 percent will go back to talking like grown-ups.

 

[canuck5]

Thats not news. Its a fact that properly home schooled students do very well. Not all, but many.

Ok Ok we get it your pro union and you respect teachers haha. Not a fan of Unions past experience is that they protect the wrong people and hold back those who want to advance.

 

[Polarblu]

No to jack the thread but it is a strike/union type question and its related. Anyone work for Finning/Cat ? I believe there is a limited strike duration clause in that contract also due to crippling the construction industry last summer. Cost 100's of millions of dollars to equipment owners for a pissing match.

 

[malibumama]

My Dad was a teacher and later school princal. He retired after 32 years. He has also been retired for quite a few years now.
Here is what I saw. Marking exams, reading kids assignments, doing report cards. Assisting at the school during kids events.
Where is Dad? School basketball,soccer,curling.

So yes they have the summer off,2 weeks at Christmas,spring break. Some conventions they attend.

I guess we all should think about those hours spent doing things for students on their own time away from their kids.

Just saying. From a son of a teacher.

Arff, well said. My kids (and chris) say that often. 4 days a week I coach sports teams after school. Teachers also need to put in extracurricular time.(Apart from planning, marking etc) That's time away from my own kids to spend with other kids.

Posted from my BlackBerry using BerryBlab

 

[Free Rider]

Not show up for 3 days and still have a job? You must be refering to them going on strike and not getting paid for 3 days which will in turn save the go'vt of BC millions in unpaid wages. Teachers get their qualifications by going to college and university for years and pay for it out of their own pockets. Wheres the problem?

My problem is with unions. If I don't show up for work for 3 days I wouldn't have a job cause I would be fired. Unions make it so people don't appreciate their employers for employing them. I like working for who I do and when I decide that I don't like it then I will get a different job. I have no problem with anyone wanting a better life or a better job. I just think people need to take it upon themselves to make it happen without causing a disturbance to so many people. There is alot of people who paid their own way through school so I don't get your coment about teachers doing it.

 

[LID]

Anyone who thinks that teachers only work from opening bell to closing bell have no idea how the education system really works. They are definitely doing their kids a disservice by knowing so little about what goes into their education.

Put it in your kids heads that teachers are lazy overpaid bums, that'll really encourage them to pay attention and respect their teacher. They'll probably have trouble in school, and grow up to tell their kids that teachers are overpaid lazy bums.

Complaining again that they get a prep day?

Both my parents were teachers so I saw how hard they both worked, spending almost as much time out of school as in school on work/coaching/helping kids.

 

[eclipse1966]

My problem is with unions. If I don't show up for work for 3 days I wouldn't have a job cause I would be fired. Unions make it so people don't appreciate their employers for employing them. I like working for who I do and when I decide that I don't like it then I will get a different job. I have no problem with anyone wanting a better life or a better job. I just think people need to take it upon themselves to make it happen without causing a disturbance to so many people. There is alot of people who paid their own way through school so I don't get your coment about teachers doing it.

I wasn't going to bring this up as it would sound like sour grapes but this is what I am trying to say that their fight becomes my inconvenience and that is so true to the unions. I import and export products. Several years ago the Vancouver longshoremen decided to go on strike. Guess what, my $32,000 container of mangos went south after sitting on the dock for a few weeks all because they made THEIR problem my problem. Talk about a kick in the teeth! Anyway, I think changes to our education system are necessary but not at the inconvenience to the avg Joe. I think that is where the difference in mentality between union and non union.

 

[jbb]

where the f#ck to start? must be nice to dream of a perfect world. unfortunatly its not. reality check time. life sucks. deal with it!

 

[S.W.A.T.]

Welcome to the discussion, glad you, as a parent, have been paying attention to an important issue that's been going on for the last 6 months that will affect your child's future. "THEY WANT MONEY? SH!T JUST GOT REAL!"

Yeah, they do want more money so they can be in line with other teachers in the country, but it's not the root of it. These PEOPLE who we've put in charge of our children's futures want to be treated with respect. They put in as many hours, deal with as much BS as anyone, and you want to throw them under a fuggin' bus? You have no idea.

The advertising is to point out that they want more than money. They want job security (not fired or relocated on a whim) and teachable classes (you try and make 30 teenagers "learn" something. I bet you couldn't either.)

You think being a teacher is just something you can do? Like a job at McDonalds or something? They went to college for 6 years, probably have student loans... I'm still paying off my 4 year program and I get paid more than a teacher with equivalent years of experience.

Their employer will not negotiate on their terms, so the teachers have been working without a contract for the last couple years. Teachers I know love their jobs. They spend their own money on supplies. They spend evenings and weekends marking and preparing for the days ahead.

So here's two points for you to think on: Your daughters teacher is a human, probably stressed out about the measly strike pay they're about to get, and you think they're horrible evil for "spreading propaganda"? Second, maybe you should think about how much you value your kids education a bit.

Im on my back laughing right now. My mom is a specail needs techer and loves her job. She is outraged by the fact teachers won't do theirs. Marking papers, planning and large class rooms...... What ever happened to part of the job description. Kids today don't have a clue as to what its like. The first question the teacher asks is if the kids have had breakfast if they say no then there is a room for those who havent to go and get what ever they like from cereal to bacon and eggs, fruit milk and juice all included. When I was growing up if you we didn't have luch we went hungry or took our halloween candy to trade for real food. I have very humble begenings and do not forget where I have come from. These teachers that are paying for their own supplies? Who ever paid for a loggers work boots or a truckers tires or a mechanics wrenches? If they made the choice to go to school and take out loans in the process that is their obligation not mine. I can't go to my employer and say I have a hefty morgage so give me a raise with better benifits. We made the consious decision to send our kids to private school so that we were not faced with many of these problems in the public school system. Its sad to think but one day a child is going to go missing because the teachers aren't performing the rolls and responsabilities.... Who is going to take the heat for that one?

If you don't like your job or your pay grade frind something else or stop complaining.

It sure would be nice to only work 9 months a year and get paid for 12 with full benifits and pention at the end.

just my 2

 

[jbb]

we all seen how well union demands for job security and better bennifits got gm and dodge. i guess you cant break the government.......

 

[Barry Barton]

Yes their are alot of good points in this blog, but like most guys have said they would not do this job( same hear). But it's the job u love so suck it up and stop winning about what u have or don't have. It would be nice to get all the facts of why they are going on strike but we will never see that and with that teacher telling the student why they are going on strike should be disaplined because that is information for adults not children. Yes teachers do alot of extra hours of work for the students and I do agree their should be extra pay for that but alot of peaple do the samething and don't get payed for it. Yes the goverment should make sure that all the classes have all the supplys for that class is available but i'm sure this is not happening. The best thing I have ever seen when my son was playing rep football was their was several familys that couldn't afored the cost so all they had the parents do was a little more volenter time to cover the cost. I'm sure this didn't come close to what I payed and I don't care because this kept the child busy instead of getting into trouble or breaking into my house. For years i was against unions until a friend who is a union rep and he filled me in on how this system works. It helps protect the employee from a bad boss who decides he didn't like u that day and he fire u for no reason or hires his friend for a good paying job that u should have. Yes a employee can get fired as long as management goes through the proper steps , so don't blame the union for protecting the socalled bad employee because management is to stupid to follow the rules that are put down in writing. U think that teachers have it good I have a friend who works in a pulp mill in BC and after the 4 days on and 4 days off and he gets 12 weeks in payed holidays a year and he makes a 6 diget paycheck a yr. So how much work does he do a year for what he makes and he doesn't have to put up with the kids and parents but he has 35yrs in the business. I do think teachers should get better pay for what they do but shouldn't we all.

 

[Riverjet]

Haha,work 10 months, everymonth a PD day (we all know they are not in a meeting), Long week end, spring break, X'mas break. They want respect? They have to earn our respect by doing their job right. The teachers may working without contract but they got pay. Job security is only happen with union and union has no different than gangsters in Canada. Tell me who else got a life job gurantee.

Take a hike!

 

[Riverjet]

Ok Ok we get it your pro union and you respect teachers haha. Not a fan of Unions past experience is that they protect the wrong people and hold back those who want to advance.

Thats not entirely true.

If the employer properly documents issues with deadwood and involves the union, problem people are very easy to get rid of. Unions also protect employees that are being fired for no reason like you see in non union shops. Non union employers can pretty much fire without cause and it happens a lot where people are fired to make a spot for an employers relative or because they simply don't like you. The list is endless. People shouldn't lose their jobs because the boss's son-inlaw needs it. If the Boss in a union shop wants you fired, he better have a good reason and the documentation to back it up.

I don't know what you mean that the union can "hold back those who want to advance". I've never seen any union having any say in who does or does not advance. That is the employers decision.

 

[Riverjet]

Im positive that after these three days, the pissing match will be over as they have to go back or tender a resignation. This clause in the contract was put in place to make sure we didnt run into the same gong show that happened in the 90's. Its talk to go away, those that do tender a notice loose everything they have worked for. It will happen for a few that can afford it from a dual income family, but 90 percent will go back to talking like grown-ups.

Not so. If they refuse to return to work there are fines handed out to the tune of 1.3 million a day for the union and $450 a day per union member that refuses to go back.

 

[Riverjet]

No to jack the thread but it is a strike/union type question and its related. Anyone work for Finning/Cat ? I believe there is a limited strike duration clause in that contract also due to crippling the construction industry last summer. Cost 100's of millions of dollars to equipment owners for a pissing match.

I have a hard time believing that without seeing their agreement with my own eyes. Unions strike for a reason. Can't see any union allowing a clause like that to be added to any collective agreement.
Caterpillar closed a plant in London Ontario recently where the employees were on strike because they refused to have their wages cut in half. 456 direct jobs and about 1700 spinoff jobs were lost.

If such a clause existed the plant wouldn't have closed.

 

[Bnorth]

Depending where they are in the province they make about $40k - $50k to start. That is pretty damn good money for someone straight out of university. I just graduated and most of my grad class makes about $35k to start and works a ton of hours. Guess what my job doesn't always end when I walk out the door either and I sure as hell don't work 8 hour days, since I'm salary I don't get paid OT either. I don't bitch about it because it was the choice I made when I got into this business.

I don't agree with them having to buy supplies for their students but if they want extras in the class such as tools for themselves then I think that is justified that they pay for it.

 

[Barry Barton]

Thats not entirely true.

If the employer properly documents issues with deadwood and involves the union, problem people are very easy to get rid of. Unions also protect employees that are being fired for no reason like you see in non union shops. Non union employers can pretty much fire without cause and it happens a lot where people are fired to make a spot for an employers relative or because they simply don't like you. The list is endless. People shouldn't lose their jobs because the boss's son-inlaw needs it. If the Boss in a union shop wants you fired, he better have a good reason and the documentation to back it up.

I don't know what you mean that the union can "hold back those who want to advance". I've never seen any union having any say in who does or does not advance. That is the employers decision.

the only place the union has a say is when peaple are called in for overtime or when a junior gets a better position in the company but they have no control over management positions.

 

[Polarblu]

Not so. If they refuse to return to work there are fines handed out to the tune of 1.3 million a day for the union and $450 a day per union member that refuses to go back.

Good information thank you. i knew there was a lot of pressure put on this 3 days only. 450 a day for someone that makes 200-300 is a big deal.