Normally I use this space to write about what is in my hands, and on my needles. But right now I have more in my hands than I can handle alone. Maybe you can help.
Today I walked and visited with Katie, a happy little girl who shared her morning with me on the picket line. We skipped, and sang, saved an inch worm’s life on the sidewalk, and tied her long scarf in five different ways, while she told me all about her summer and how she is going to paint her bedroom pink today. It is thanks to Katie, that I’ve decided to write this blog post. She helped me to see how important it is that I share the truth.
I am very proud to say that I am a teacher, and as you know, since June 17th of this year, I have been walking the picket line with my colleagues. We are fighting a very important fight, instead of working in our classrooms. This is a huge challenge for me on many levels, and there are some issues that are very contentious. One example, is the E80 clause. E80 is on the tips of many tongues these days, but what it really means is not too clear. E80 is an Employer Proposal #80 which outlines the class size and composition guidelines for BC teachers. It was put on the table by the government and BCPSEA (our employer) for negotiation. There is a clause in this proposal that, if agreed to, would supersede all court rulings regarding class size and composition language. I thought that, if you had 10 minutes to spare, you might want to watch this interview with former Crown Prosecutor, Sandy Garossino. She is a neutral third party, not caught up in the emotionally charged debates, and well-versed in the legal language. She clearly explains the importance of the court rulings, and why it is wrong of our government to attempt to ignore previous rulings and directions from Madame Justice Susan Griffin, about class size and composition language stripped from the teachers’ contract by the liberal government in 2002. That legislation, Bill 28, removed class size and composition from the collective bargaining process, violating teachers’ constitutional rights. Justice Griffin found the government’s legislation introduced in 2012, Bill 22, to be virtually identical to Bill 28, and therefore, equally unconstitutional. Justice Griffin’s ruling meant that the Liberal’s legislation was never valid (twice), and that deleted terms from the teachers’ collective agreement must be restored retroactively, and be the subject of future bargaining. Christy Clark’s government is not complying with the two court rulings, and has not bargained in good faith. Instead, they have appealed Justice Griffin’s ruling, again, holding up any progress on this issue, in the courts, indefinitely. This is the truth.
I am writing this on my blog because I believe that the more people who are well-informed and clear-headed about the facts surrounding this strike, the more hope there will be that our public education system will be defended. It is my job to hold the line on this issue. Privatization of education would be a disaster for our children. The defunding, and the attempts at union splitting that the Liberals are engaged in, is unacceptable. Privatization would be cheaper and would place the control of curriculum and educational services right where the government wants it, with them. Politicians are not the ones who should be deciding what is being taught to our children, and how. If you have time to write to your MLA in support of our public education system in BC, you will make a difference for the children in your lives.
Here are some articles that might help to explain the facts further:
Thank you very much for anything that you can do to support the teachers and the children that you know.