Are Ontario teachers really going to Strike?

Boges · April 20, 2015

No it isn't. Teachers apply and compete for positions of responsibility.

If you don't know what you're talking about, you might want to not talk about it.

.

So there aren't automatic raises teachers get simply because of their tenure?

jacee · April 20, 2015

People in this thread are saying how hard the job is.

You want to do it?

Or do you just want to complain?

There is an element to supply and demand to all employment. I guess except in the public sector.

Not true ... and absurd.

Staffing is a formula based on #students and class sizes.

Some teachers on temporary contracts are hired and laid off every year as needed.

And I love how calling people children is childish.

Yes it is.

.

Edited April 20, 2015 by jacee

Boges · April 20, 2015

See the TDSB and how the province has threatened to take them over because they refuse to close half empty schools?

Supply and Demand indeed.

Boges · April 20, 2015

You want to do it?

Or do you just want to complain?

.

Even if I don't, lots of people do. So the difficulty of the job is irrelevant.

Bob Macadoo · April 20, 2015

Even if I don't, lots of people do. So the difficulty of the job is irrelevant.

I bet I can find a TFW willing to do your job just as well for less.....is that irrevelant too?

Boges · April 20, 2015

I bet I can find a TFW willing to do your job just as well for less.....is that irrevelant too?

So we're talking about Temporary Foreign Workers now? I guess that's the same type of hyperbole that comes up when people say that banking sick days is something that shouldn't be offered and the rebut is that Unions keep everyone from making minimum wage.

But to your point, you most certainly could. But then again, I'm not bitching about my working conditions and threatening to strike.

Bob Macadoo · April 21, 2015

So we're talking about Temporary Foreign Workers now? I guess that's the same type of hyperbole that comes up when people say that banking sick days is something that shouldn't be offered and the rebut is that Unions keep everyone from making minimum wage.

But to your point, you most certainly could. But then again, I'm not bitching about my working conditions and threatening to strike.

Yes it is hyperbole....just as nauseating as your exaggeration. Teachers are collective bargaining.....you characterize it as bitching.

socialist · April 21, 2015

It's good to see teachers across Canada show solidarity for the tough times teahers in Ontario are enduring.

https://twitter.com/bctf/status/590258104530391041

jacee · April 21, 2015

It's good to see teachers across Canada show solidarity for the tough times teahers in Ontario are enduring.

https://twitter.com/bctf/status/590258104530391041

Give it a rest with the "tough times" bs soc'st: It's called collective bargaining and it's a normal process.

.

socialist · April 21, 2015

Give it a rest with the "tough times" bs soc'st: It's called collective bargaining and it's a normal process.

.

It's not BS; it's reality. I guess you are a supporter of under the table neo-liberal tactics. Well, I'm not.

Ash74 · April 21, 2015

It's not BS; it's reality. I guess you are a supporter of under the table neo-liberal tactics. Well, I'm not.

the tactics that The Ontario Government is displaying right now?

But Wynne will pull through for you right?

Bob Rea

Mike Harris

Ernie Eves

Dalton Mcguinty

and now Kathleen Wynne.

Three parties and very different people with very very different points of view. Yet they all have had the same battle with the same people......

Edited April 21, 2015 by Ash74

jacee · April 21, 2015

It's not BS; it's reality. I guess you are a supporter of under the table neo-liberal tactics. Well, I'm not.

?

Another imposed 'contract' is out of the question of course and teachers are bargaining from a position of strength.

.

jacee · April 21, 2015

the tactics that The Ontario Government is displaying right now?

But Wynne will pull through for you right?

Bob Rea

Mike Harris

Ernie Eves

Dalton Mcguinty

and now Kathleen Wynne.

Three parties and very different people with very very different points of view. Yet they all have had the same battle with the same people......

Duh ... ya ... because the government is in negotiations with public employees.

Contractual collective bargaining.

It's a process.

.

Ash74 · April 21, 2015

Duh ... ya ... because the government is in negotiations with public employees.

Contractual collective bargaining.

It's a process.

.

What is more likely there sparky is the union wants arbitration Will get a better deal than bargaining.

This is all just huffing and puffing so the next contract talks is even stronger.

jacee · April 21, 2015

What is more likely there sparky

No name calling.

is the union wants arbitration Will get a better deal than bargaining.

This is all just huffing and puffing so the next contract talks is even stronger.

This is contract talks with strike mandate.

Public high school teachers in Durham, east of Toronto, went on strike Monday. Teachers at 16 public high schools in Waterloo Region could strike May 4.

Public elementary school teachers have requested a Ministry of Labour report that, when issued, allows them to strike 17 days later across Ontario

Catholic teachers are voting this week on a provincial strike mandate, but have no strike deadline.

Teachers have been without a contract since last August.

- See more at: http://m.therecord.com/news-story/5567214-odds-rising-of-strike-by-teachers-in-waterloo-region-and-across-province/#sthash.6xRCQWc7.dpuf

Edited April 21, 2015 by jacee

Boges · April 21, 2015

Not about money eh?

http://www.thestar.com/yourtoronto/education/2015/04/20/teachers-strike-starts-an-unwelcome-education.html

While bargaining takes place in private, there are hints talks are getting bogged down partly because Education Minister Liz Sandals has insisted there is no new money for raises because of the public-sector wage freeze. There’s also a proposal for an unpaid day off, as well as slower movement up the salary grid. As well, the school boards want to eliminate a new hiring system based on seniority which they say disadvantages fresh rookies, but which teachers’ unions say avoids favoritism in hiring.

What did I say about seniority and automatic raises that don't take into account performance earlier in this thread?

jacee · April 21, 2015

Not about money eh?

http://www.thestar.com/yourtoronto/education/2015/04/20/teachers-strike-starts-an-unwelcome-education.html

Nobody said there wasn't a wage issue. Of course there is. It's collective bargaining.

What did I say about seniority and automatic raises that don't take into account performance earlier in this thread?

It's pretty standard to get annual raises everywhere.

What's your point?

.

Boges · April 21, 2015

Nobody said there wasn't a wage issue. Of course there is. It's collective bargaining.

It's pretty standard to get annual raises everywhere.

What's your point?

.

These aren't annual cost of living raises. They're promotions based on years of service, and the province wants to slow that rate down. Also, as far as I know, teachers still get these grid raises, even though there's supposed to be a wage freeze.

You're right that many employers give annual cost of living increases, BUT If a private employer was in as much debt as the provincial government, I'd imagine there'd be across the board layoffs. We don't see that in the public sector. So we have a wage freeze instead. Can't have it both ways.

Edited April 21, 2015 by Boges

MiddleClassCentrist · April 21, 2015

See the TDSB and how the province has threatened to take them over because they refuse to close half empty schools?

Supply and Demand indeed.

Support the merger of the Segregated and Public boards and eliminate the inequity in supporting one religion with tax payer funds. When you break down all capital costs, the segregated board receives more funding per student because they are building more schools resulting in more half empty schools....

Also, remove communities from the process of choosing which schools to close will expedite the closure process dramatically. People fight with emotions over old buildings that cost more to keep running than to bulldoze and rebuild...

Edited April 21, 2015 by MiddleClassCentrist

Boges · April 21, 2015

Support the merger the Segregated and Public boards and eliminate the inequity in supporting one religion with tax payer funds. When you break down all capital costs, the segregated board receives more funding per student because they are building more schools resulting in more half empty schools....

Also, remove communities from the process of choosing which schools to close will expedite the closure process dramatically. People fight with emotions over old buildings that cost more to keep running than to bulldoze and rebuild...

Not even this government is going to touch the Catholic Board issue. I haven't even heard it mentioned by anyone except people that work in a public school saying they want the money from the Catholic students.

Regardless, if the system is based purely on enrolment, that shouldn't be as much of an issue.

As for communities, I agree. And the people that don't want sparsely populated schools to close are the ones that probably would likely to vote for Trustees. They have to show some leadership on this issue I suppose.

Edited April 21, 2015 by Boges

Mighty AC · April 21, 2015

Regardless, if the system is based purely on enrolment, that shouldn't be as much of an issue.

Duplicating boards, offices, admin staff and all the infrastructure, plus maintenance and equipment costs all add up. Ontarians would save $1.5 billion by merging the Catholic system into the mainstream public system. It's a big issue and the obvious right thing to do, both financially and morally, but it's also politically toxic. We need Frank Underwood to get this done!

Boges · April 21, 2015

Duplicating boards, offices, admin staff and all the infrastructure, plus maintenance and equipment costs all add up. Ontarians would save $1.5 billion by merging the Catholic system into the mainstream public system. It's a big issue and the obvious right thing to do, both financially and morally, but it's also politically toxic. We need Frank Underwood to get this done!

I don't disagree. Why do we only hear about it on Message Boards? Why isn't this a demand from these teachers threatening to strike?

I suspect the potential jobs losses to middle managers at the board are the main reason. You immediately remove, or at least merge, an entire level of bureaucracy. That's gonna cost jobs.

As a side note, and complete thread drift, there's plenty of pointy heads that say, instead of this huge social safety net, we should just ensure every Canadian gets a minimum income, say $20,000/year. Wouldn't that be great? But in order for that to work, you'd have remove the social welfare industry. Imagine how many jobs that would cost?

Edited April 21, 2015 by Boges

MiddleClassCentrist · April 21, 2015

Not even this government is going to touch the Catholic Board issue. I haven't even heard it mentioned by anyone except people that work in a public school saying they want the money from the Catholic students.

Regardless, if the system is based purely on enrolment, that shouldn't be as much of an issue.

http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2014/11/03/public_funds_shouldnt_pay_for_catholic_schools_in_secular_ontario.html

There are plenty of people talking about it. There's actually a large number of Catholics that don't support keeping themselves segregated. Only Catholics who want to pretend the discussion doesn't exist to keep their inequitable system are the ones not talking about it.

Mighty AC · April 21, 2015

I don't disagree. Why do we only hear about it on Message Boards? Why isn't this a demand from these teachers threatening to strike?

Many are...but in reality it's an issue beyond teacher pay scale. It would be like Bob McCown demanding Rogers sell off the Blue Jays during his contract negotiations.

Boges · April 21, 2015

http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2014/11/03/public_funds_shouldnt_pay_for_catholic_schools_in_secular_ontario.html

There are plenty of people talking about it. There's actually a large number of Catholics that don't support keeping themselves segregated. Only Catholics who want to pretend the discussion doesn't exist to keep their inequitable system are the ones not talking about it.

Didn't hear about it mentioned during the last Provincial Election. Not even by the NDP.