October 6 - So it Begins - The Alberta Teacher Strike

[GGG]

Originally Posted by GullFoss

Serious question: what professionals actually get paid for overtime outside of nursing?

I've had a career spanning the public and private sector and have never been paid overtime. If I have to work a stat holiday, Ive gotten time-and-a-half in lieu. But I don't think I've worked a job that Averages less than 45 hours a week since entering the professional field (and the lower number was when working for the government).

EPCs(Engineering design companies) typically get straight time for billable hours in excess of 40 a week. The EP makes money as long as they have budget in the project as the hours are just sold on a multiplier of salary. They actually make more in those cases because benefits and overheads are constant. So they much prefer to have people straight time than higher more staff. Producers get kick ass bonuses in exchange for that flexibility.

[Point Blank]

Originally Posted by Arsenal14

Don't forget - the teacher stays until the last student is picked up. So when a parent is "running late" that teacher is stuck at the school. It's shocking how often that happens.

Absolutely. I’ve once had a parent arrive 1.5 hours late! My principal gave them an earful after she found out which I appreciated.

Extracurriculars are so much fun and it embodies what teachers go into teaching for. But between parents arriving late, parents getting on my case about play time, submitting incident reports every time an athlete gets hurt, and dealing with students with bad attitude (especially soccer) it’s almost like another job. And now I have to make sure all the girls have 2 X chromosomes.

My guess is Marlaina wants to legislate us back to work, and wants us to halt all extracurriculars just to contrast us with what private schools can offer.

[Derek Sutton]

The phased approach to classroom caps is great in theory, but logistically impossible to control or implement in the proposed time frame. More EA’s in every classroom is the most reasonable, efficient and economical solution, but certainly not a “union favourable” solution. With the ATA refusing mediation, the province with starve the teachers out until many will have no choice but to accept a contract because they need to be paid.

Personal anecdote, young next door neighbours both husband and wife are teachers, four and two years in the job. And not to get too much into their finances, but, well going a full month with no paycheques will take them months to recover. He told me two months no paycheques will take them a year to catch up.

[Looch City]

How could it even be called "mediation" if the government forces the discussion NOT to include the very reasons for this strike in the first place?

It's asinine.

[malcolmk14]

Originally Posted by Derek Sutton

The phased approach to classroom caps is great in theory, but logistically impossible to control or implement in the proposed time frame.

Compensate teachers for classes where the caps can't be met.

Think about it any other professional context. You're responsible for 21 projects and compensated accordingly. Your boss comes to you and says, "Sorry, but it's logistically impossible to hire someone else to deal with these other 8 projects, so I'm going to give them to you."

What's fair?