October 6 - So it Begins - The Alberta Teacher Strike

[WinnipegFan]

Originally Posted by Point Blank

Yes. And honestly, even if I get legislated back to work, I’m no longer teaching in a classroom. The main reason I am striking doesn’t even affect my day to day work anymore. But, unlike the UCP and their supporters, I choose to listen when my colleagues tell me about their work conditions, and I choose to support the right for all students, regardless of socioeconomic status to equitable opportunities at life.

Sometimes when people tell us things, we can listen without being paternalistic about their needs. Something I think UCP and their supporters can’t seem to grasp.

So you work downtown? What’s your take on the horrendous rental agreement the CBE signed paying triple the going rate for office space that is occupied by people who have been creating the class size issue hand in hand with the UCP? The financial responsibility of the CBE leaves as much to be desired as this government.

[Point Blank]

Originally Posted by WinnipegFan

So you work downtown? What’s your take on the horrendous rental agreement the CBE signed paying triple the going rate for office space that is occupied by people who have been creating the class size issue hand in hand with the UCP? The financial responsibility of the CBE leaves as much to be desired as this government.

I came into the profession after the Ed Centre was already signed, there’s been three chief superintendents since I became a teacher, and I don’t know anyone in senior leadership who was involved in the deal. My scope is somewhat limited but everyone I know acknowledges that it was a mistake; I met Brad Grundy, the CFO, super early in my career and he implied that he came into CBE after the deal was signed, and was pretty frank about it being a terrible decision.

You and I have both worked in head office and seem to have different experiences, and both are valid. I don’t offer any defense for CBE; all I know is that the colleagues and leadership that I currently work with in downtown are the strongest educators I’ve ever worked with. My system principal actually taught me many years ago and she was the best teacher I’ve ever had. I also believe that the work my service unit is responsible for is important and necessary to advance practice in the classroom.

I can’t do anything about what CBE is now strapped with, but I believe in public education and will say that my service unit and past teacher colleagues equally care about students. So despite what occurred with Ed Centre, when I advocate for public education it’s also advocating for my colleagues, both in downtown and schools.

[malcolmk14]

Day 10 of the strike tomorrow. Looks like this is going to go into next week. A lot of the discussion lately is around the UCP's possible use of the notwithstanding clause to suspend our Charter rights and force us back to work.

Section 33 of the Charter allows for suspension of Charter rights in order to pass a law that the government knows is unconstitutional. Smith using this clause to end the strike is anti-democratic, full stop.

If Smith does this, it will be a full out assault on workers' rights in Canada. It is being used as a political weapon to undermine the collective bargaining process. This is critically important not just for educators, but the democratic fabric of our country.

[Point Blank]

Originally Posted by malcolmk14

Day 10 of the strike tomorrow. Looks like this is going to go into next week. A lot of the discussion lately is around the UCP's possible use of the notwithstanding clause to suspend our Charter rights and force us back to work.

Section 33 of the Charter allows for suspension of Charter rights in order to pass a law that the government knows is unconstitutional. Smith using this clause to end the strike is anti-democratic, full stop.

If Smith does this, it will be a full out assault on workers' rights in Canada. It is being used as a political weapon to undermine the collective bargaining process. This is critically important not just for educators, but the democratic fabric of our country.

“Strong and Free”… give me a break.

[Mr.Coffee]

I ####ing HATE the UCP and Danielle Smith. Can all go f themselves.

[#22]

Originally Posted by WinnipegFan

So you work downtown? What’s your take on the horrendous rental agreement the CBE signed paying triple the going rate for office space that is occupied by people who have been creating the class size issue hand in hand with the UCP? The financial responsibility of the CBE leaves as much to be desired as this government.

It really is time to stop going on about the Ed Centre deal. As Point Blank has already pointed out, everyone that was involved in that decision is long gone (including the elected Board of Trustees members who unanimously agreed to move forward with the decision) and everyone internally knows and agrees it was and is a bad deal.

Also, let's be honest here. The amount we are talking about is less than 1% of the overall budget of the CBE (around 13 million annually out of $1.67 billion) and in the grand scheme of things is really just a drop in the bucket.

BTW, not all of us work out of the Ivory Tower. My team and many others works out of Highfield, an early 60's worn out, old mishmash of a building with furniture to match. My area has water stained ceiling tiles, lights burnt out or missing, is either too hot or too cold and no matter how many times we have it fumigated, has an infestation of boxelder bugs up in the ceiling that will occasionally fall into your hair, coffee, keyboard etc. while you are working.

Has there been bad decisions? Yes.
Is there inefficiencies / wastage? Yes
Are there people in positions that shouldn't be there? Yes

But name me any large organization for which these things are not true.
(for scale, the CBE has about 16,000 employees and over 250 buildings to manage & maintain, over 50% of which are 50 years or older)

The vast majority of all staff, teaching or non-teaching, that work for the CBE are caring, hardworking people that go above and beyond to try and keep things on track with less and less resources and to compare the CBE to this Alberta government is insulting and just plain wrong.