Although I currently work for a Catholic School Board and therefore all of the crap going on doesn't really affect me, I still find myself regularly defending my chosen profession because of all of the governmental issues.
Yes fine, I agree, the fact that the government has imposed a wage freeze as well as limiting/stopping movement on the grid is not a big deal. I will not even try to state that we as teachers don't make enough and can't afford a wage freeze...that would be ludicrous!
However, the fact of the matter is the government of Ontario has become unimaginably dictatorial by imposing a contract on the public elementary teachers. Not only have they taken away the democratic right to bargain and negotiate a contract with their employer, they have reduced sick days and eliminated the ability to bank said sick days. Some people will say that this is no big deal, but I don't believe that these people understand or have knowledge of all of the facts! Teachers have rarely negotiated contracts directly with the province. More often than not an agreement can not be reached with the province and the union bargains directly with the school boards, usually avoiding any sort of job action and ending in a fair agreement that everyone has agreed on. This year, the government of Ontario took away this ability by stipulating that unless the agreement reached with the School Boards mirrored the one that they had put on the table it would not be accepted and passed by the ministry. Therefore, rendering any negotiations completely moot. Some people might think that this is no big deal as others have had wage freezes and such imposed on them, they do not realize that the School boards are our employers, NOT the government of Ontario. The government allots the money to the Boards who then choose the people who will work for them and they pay the teachers and other education staff members. Therefore, ultimately, the government has taken away the teachers' ability to bargain with their employer which is nothing more than DICTATING to the taxpayers!
Secondly, with regards to not being able to bank sick days. I really don't think that people realize that not only do most boards no longer pay out these days upon retirement but these bankable sick days were given in lieu of vacation pay! Teachers do not get the same 4% vacation pay that everyone else is guaranteed by the Ontario Labour Standards Act (or whatever it is called)! We have our pay for 10 months of work stretched out over 12 months in order to have a paycheque throughout the entire year.
I think I am at the point where I am tired of people who do not truly understand the situation going on about how lucky the teachers are and that they should just stop complaining. Teachers love their jobs and they love the children who are in their care 5 days a week. Yes, there are a few that are there for the paycheque but most of us are there for the love of the job and the children!
Stephanie;
ReplyDeleteI am in NO way trying to negate the way you are feeling. Really I am not. It is a crap situation all around.
Unfortunately, I tend to heavily agree with SOME of the points that WERE mandated to be changed by the government.
Firstly, not only teachers, but most people in todays economy can't afford a wage freeze. I have not had a raise at my job in 2 years. Unfortunately, it is what it is. Rather than whining about it or making threats to 'strike', my family has adjusted to a lower income and given things up in order to deal with this issue.
Secondly, yes the school board is your employer. However, the school boards are governed by a set of rules if you will that the Provincial government decides upon. While you, and many teachers alike, may feel that in this situation the government is meddling, however, I think many people see it otherwise. Ministry of Education runs the boards and teachers work for the boards.
Thirdly, I get 8 sick days a year. If I don't use them, tough, I lose them. I don't see why ANY profession should be allowed to roll over sick days until they retire. That philosophy and practice is archatic in it's thinking. Perhaps it worked in the 60's, 70's and 80's however, we live in a different world now and practices have to change. All this unused time, when it becomes time to pay it out, has to be paid from somewhere. And where my personal frustration comes into play in regards to this point is that the well will eventually run dry; and the only way that this money can be raised, is generally through taxes. And I for one, personally am getting fed up with seeing my tax bill rise, with less and less in return.
I also appreciate that your stand point on no actual vacation pay. However, as you stated, your pay is spread out over 12 months for 10 months of work. There are not many professions that can state that. I work 50 weeks a year to earn 2 weeks off. And those 50 weeks are rarely ever less than 45 hour working hours plus a minimum of 2 hours commuting.
To sum it up, I TOTALLY respect your position. I don't think you should have to defend your profession. It is a situation like any: when you are passionate about it, it hurts to hear people cutting it down. However, in my experience, that passion also leads to somekind of blindness to how the 'other half' is viewing things.
I don't respect either side at the moment because it is the CHILDREN that are paying the price.
Wendy