1 Mar 2012 10:34 AM
7 Dec 2010
Canelle
Rookie
243
1 Mar 2012 10:47 AM
19 Sep 2005
Ms_Married
Duchess of the Forum
21,087
I don't know much about contracts and bargaining, but that seems like a slap in the face for teachers, both in terms of the offer and the tone. I know we're in a economic downturn and all and some cutbacks are expected, but....yikes.
Well, I'm not an ON teacher, but I am a BC teacher. I feel your pain. We voted 87% in favour of escalating our strike action yesterday. (We've been on strike since September, but it's been a Phase 1 action, essentially working to rule.) Scary times. The government here is trying to push through Bill 22, which will essentially force us back to work, and will further prevent us from a fair contract.
1 Mar 2012 12:06 PM
27 Apr 2006
Kitchener
Teacher_Wife
Raving Lunatic
10,046
I'm OSSTF not ETFO, but I've been reading
These ones bug me:
-A 2012 valuation of the pension plan with a view to not increasing the governments level of contribution.
*The government already doesn't life up to its funding commitments, and now wants to do even less which would mean we'd have to do even more after we just passed an increase last year.
-All teachers currently working their way either up or across the salary grid to be frozen in place for two years with no future adjustments to recognize the missed steps.
I'm fine with a freeze if seniority would be recognized (or raises if the grid is frozen). I expected that anyway. I'm fine with giving up the sick-day banking because as long as ALL other government employees give it up too (I think some people still have it). Besides it is ridiculous and should have been gone long long ago. Teachers don't call in sick not because of the banking, but because it takes just as long to plan for a sick day as it does to just show up and teach. Plus it might mean that some sick teacher would just stay home instead of spreading whatever it is to the kids and other teachers.
I am happy that they aren't talking about class sizes.
It is going to be a nasty September.
1 Mar 2012 12:36 PM
9 May 2006
Pannecoeke
Postaholic
7,974
I was listening to talk radio this morning and they were talking about this. Is it true that teachers get 20 sick days per year, and if they don't use them, they accumulate and you can cash them out? If so, IMO that needs to go. We do have a deficit and some things DO need to be cut... I know other jobs in the public sector may also have the same thing (cash payout of unused sick days that is) but I think thit also needs to go for them.
I do not agree with most of the stuff being proposed though, that website is really interesting.
1 Mar 2012 12:42 PM
22 May 2007
Calgary, Alberta
SilverStargazer
Addict
3,293
In my board, no we cannot cash out our unused sick days.
We are on what is called an Evergreen system, which basically means that we can have up to 4 sick days in a row without a doctors note, after 4 days you need a note and go on extended leave. Once you come back from your sick days, you start again at your Sick Under 4 Days status (evergreening). So we can use them as little (or as much) as we need. We don't have a set number of sick days each year.
It'll be interesting to see what our negotiations will look like. They are set to start up right away...
1 Mar 2012 1:38 PM
14 Jan 2011
vw_mama
Chatterbox
262
I think we will end up on strike if it continues like this. It's a really, really bad offer.
I think 6 sick days is way too low. Yes, 20 is a bit high. People go through stages of needing more, needing less. We work with children...we will get sick. We also have zero flexibility with scheduling, and at times, we need to have flex days for other legitimate purposes (ie. sick kids, appts, etc.) It seems sexist that other unions not predominantly female have not had 0% enforced. I would be much more agreeable to 15 accumulative sick days, maybe just with a smaller payout or something. The current payout is quite high. Why can't they just reduce it significantly, instead of eliminating it? That's the problem with this offer, it just goes too deep, too quickly.
I'm good with the 0%, as long as I would still be going up on the grid as expected. They have said they are looking at reworking the grids, I wonder how that would work?
I'm not looking forward to this round of negotiations. Yes, measures must be taken but they must be fair and realistic for all.
1 Mar 2012 3:25 PM
20 Jan 2010
Ontario
MangoMama
Rookie
187
It really irks me that they think that 2 years freezing someone's salary is okay..how about we freeze the salaries of the politicians and see how fast they would change their tune. From what I've heard, these "suggestions" are the government's way of trying to show the union they're the boss so they are offering ridiculous changes as a starting off point to negotiations...I really hope so because it would suck!!
1 Mar 2012 3:37 PM
23 Apr 2008
Jugie
Addict
2,967
It sounds like a bad deal but other ontario employees (I know for sure healthcare) have been frozen for over 2 years salary wise. In this sense they are not just picking on the teachers!
1 Mar 2012 3:53 PM
31 Jul 2010
omaki
Devotee
1,941
Current government negotiation tactics:
Although, no one's getting 2% raises these days.
1 Mar 2012 4:09 PM
21 Nov 2007
Burlington, ON
LTG
Devotee
1,434
I work as a teacher in a private school and our salaries and pension contributions from our employer have been frozen for two years now. We get 10 sick days a year and we are not allowed to bank any unused days.
1 Mar 2012 4:12 PM
30 Mar 2008
Luckygirl78
Chatterbox
460
In my board we don't get to cash out any banked sick days when we retire. Six sick days are too low. I've had 3 kids throw up in my classroom so far this year, 2 with diarrhea accidents in my room, and been coughed and sneezed on more times then I can count. I teach primary kids, and I love them, but they can be germy! Teachers need more then six sick days for this reason alone.
1 Mar 2012 4:13 PM
8 Nov 2008
BabyG
Addict
2,597
I know it's really going to hurt our family. With two in daycare and some major health related expenses we depend on DHs salary increases.
It really stinks that new/young teachers are going to be the ones peanalized. Yes, maxed out teachers make an excellent salary in Ontario, but the starting wages are terrible when you consider the amount of training and work that the average teacher puts in to even get a job.
6 sick days seems impossibly low. Although 20 sick days is very kooshy considering teachers only work 9ish months a year. Many people get 15, that seems reasonable.
1 Mar 2012 4:20 PM
30 Mar 2008
Luckygirl78
Chatterbox
460
^ I agree. 20 is a lot. 15 is more reasonable.
1 Mar 2012 4:36 PM
31 Jul 2010
omaki
Devotee
1,941
Some people get paid $0 a year, so does that mean that teachers shouldn't get paid?
I'm not a teacher, it's just that the comparisons don't make sense to me.
Six days a year is not a lot. Teachers work hard, have a professional set of qualifications that they are expected to meet and are guaranteed certain set of benefits.
I know that some people are just being facetious, but this is exactly why the government is being allowed to chip away at the benefits of civil servants - because people say "Well, I don't have XX, so..."
Teachers are responsible for our children's welfare on a daily basis. There are many other public servants out there that provide extremely valuable service to their communities and no one seems to care about their working conditions.
I know I'm ranting, but at the moment, this is a HUGE issue for me. I'm sick of the public saying "cut, cut, cut" when it comes to teachers/public servants without thinking of how those cuts are going to impact the greater good.
I should stop now.
1 Mar 2012 5:11 PM
27 Apr 2006
Kitchener
Teacher_Wife
Raving Lunatic
10,046
I should mention something about those 24weeks on short term disability. As a supply teacher, even when I'm covering all year for a teacher at full time, I don't qualify for the short-term disability option. In fact, I don't get any benefits. As it takes many teachers 5 years or more to get a contract (ie. tenured position), that means 6 days of sick time for your youngest and most immune-challenged teachers (takes a couple of years to build up that immunity). I can tell you that my bought of pneumonia (3 days off with a doctor's note, would have been longer, but then it was x-mas breaks) plus my many doctor's appointments (complicated pregnancy), plus my short term leave for pregnancy complications (3 days again) would have put me way beyond that.
As it was, I had to put off the start of regular testing by two weeks so that I wouldn't use up all my sick days. And I did not take a single sick day to take care of my son.
1 Mar 2012 5:27 PM
31 Jul 2010
omaki
Devotee
1,941
Oh, and Meghan,
thanks for the compliment.
1 Mar 2012 5:36 PM
7 Jul 2005
Saskatoon SK
redandrea
Devotee
2,345
omaki - I think you have a good point. Teachers need to have certain considerations that the rest of the general working population do not have due to the nature of their job.
However, I don't believe in paying out unused sick days. Offering a certain number at full pay, sure. But rewarding those teachers who didn't need to use them? Why? So they didn't get sick, they didn't feel awful and they could still do their job while receiving compensation - great! A bonus for not getting sick seems ludicrous.
It seems like quite often in these step-type professions, the people at the bottom, entry levels are the ones who are screwed. If teachers really want to change the conditions of the beginning teachers, then they need to work together to "even" the playing field. In my mind that means making the steps/grid start higher and end lower than it already does, with smaller incremental steps along the way.
1 Mar 2012 6:53 PM
31 Jul 2010
omaki
Devotee
1,941
I guess the general nature of my rant isn't being properly conveyed the way I intended.
I don't really belong here anyway as I'm not a teacher!
Good luck to those of you who are teachers - it's not a good time to be in the public service right now - lots of concessions are expected of us. I hope you get a fair deal!
Oh and I'm sorry a sick BANK? Isn't sick time for when you're actually sick?
Sorry but what a crock of poop.
First, so many people don't have jobs; many qualified, hard working people. There are people who do and they complain that they will lose their sick bank and should have a wage freeze?
Welcome to today's economy! What should make teachers exempt from feeling the effects of today's economy?
What I take from stuff like this is that people are placing more value on a teacher than someone else. Every person's job is important in one facet or another. Why should importance be placed so highly on one group and so low on another?
I get pretty upset by this becaues it feels like people feel like administrative jobs are pointless and the people doing the jobs are useless. But front-line workers are GODS and deserve to be showered with unending praise, money and perks.
1 Mar 2012 7:38 PM
21 May 2008
Oakville
Katosmama
Addict
2,662
I'm not getting why teachers should get more than average sick days at 100% either, sorry.
Omaki - you made the point that they are professionals, they went to school for awhile...so did a whole lot of other people (myself included). I don't feel any more entitled to more sick days than someone who works at Tim Hortons.
I've also heard the arguement that they work in germy environments. I'll give you that one. However, if you are allowed to bank your sick days and get them paid out, there is a disincentive to take them, so that arguement is moot.
Also, several of you have talked about your specific circumstances of needing lots of days off to attend doctors appointments, specialist appointments, and someone even lamented that they didn't even take a day off sick to care for their sick child. Um...none of those is a "sick" day. Your kid gets sick - you take a vacation day if you can't find someone to watch him. If you have an appointment, you take vacation time to go. Honestly, that's how the majority of the rest of the world deals with it. And, are teachers not done at at like 3pm? Why are you not scheduling your appointments after that?
Hey, I get it, teaching is hard. I taught night school for a long time and it was mentally and physically demanding - I get it. But so are a lot of jobs - and they are not getting 20 sick days at 100% to bank or use for appointments.
Sorry...
miss_martini --- I work in a hospital. The only reason people think front line staff are the first to go is because they're the only ones making the news.
In our departments (about 750 employees) we have cut several employees from every level of employment --- from managers to secretaries to technical staff.
People assume that cutting front line staff is going to affect patient care but it's not always the case. Sometimes there are wayyyyyyyy too many front line staff working and cuts are the way to fix it. Why pay someone $35 / hour PLUS pension PLUS benefit (which works out to about $50 - $60 / hour) when there's no work to do????
And believe me ... front line staff make pretty decent money and have pretty decent benefits and pension plans --- again I know this from first-hand experience.
1 Mar 2012 8:00 PM
4 Jun 2006
MrsMac07
Devotee
2,221
Hmmm... Ontario teachers get treated like "gods", lots of "perks", done at 3 pm... methinks I'm teaching in the wrong province!
1 Mar 2012 8:05 PM
4 Jun 2006
MrsMac07
Devotee
2,221
If we want to start comparing professions, there are perks taken for granted by other professionals that teachers do not enjoy (such as scheduling flexibility). However, in discussions like these, those advantages are often forgotten...
1 Mar 2012 8:07 PM
4 Jun 2006
MrsMac07
Devotee
2,221
Mom2Buttheads, you should join our ranks then. There are lots of education faculties accepting applications.
31 Oct 2012 11:59 PM
30 Apr 2012
buzzle.ca
buzzle
New Member
0
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1 Mar 2012 8:08 PM
30 Mar 2005
Durham Region
Mommasitta
Addict
3,641
I am going to stay FAR, FAR away from this thread.
All I want to know -- does anyone know of a school board that does payout unused sick days when you retire?
I'm with DDSB and I don't *think* they do, but I could be wrong.
Oh, and I agree 20 sick days is a lot. I would be okay with 15 and not banking...so long as all other government employees lose their banks as well.
And honestly, I would be okay with a pay freeze for 2 years in return for the government doing something about class sizes. I teach grde 5 and I have 30 students. It's insane. There is no way I can adequately give every student what they need.
And what I mean by gods is that teachers and nurses seem to be some of the MOST important people in the country.
People think they should get whatever they want due to the nature of their jobs.
I just don't get why one profession deserves more respect that another? Obviously compensation levels (meaning how MUCH you make, not the breakdown of how you got there) are something completely different.
I help get money for the hospitals. I get money from those people who use our services and feel they don't have to pay for them (and we're not talking cheap services, either). So I help bring money into the hospital. I help fund it. Why am I less important or made to feel less important????? Do I not deserve a raise for my good work?
1 Mar 2012 8:15 PM
4 Jun 2006
MrsMac07
Devotee
2,221
I don't know about you, but major life events don't just happen in July and August, during the evening or on weekends.
1 Mar 2012 8:18 PM
30 Mar 2008
Luckygirl78
Chatterbox
460
I'm interested to hear which boards still have payouts for sick days upon retirement. I know in our board they did away with paying out for sick days years and years ago. I've been teaching for 10 years and they had done away with it years before I started.
MrsMac --- you're right but can you not take a day off? Can you not take holidays????
I know there are certain times of the year when I "can't" take holidays. I mean I could but it would be seriously frowned upon (ie. end of month or fiscal year). But I KNOW when I can take holidays are plan accordingly. So apply that to a teacher. I know I get July and August off. Okay so I play my vacations accordingly.
When "stuff" come up, I adjust accordingly. I need a couple sick days? I take them. I need to take a couple vacation days because my kids are sick? I take them.
How are teachers different?
1 Mar 2012 8:24 PM
21 May 2008
Oakville
Katosmama
Addict
2,662
I thought they also got two weeks at Christmas and two weeks at March break? Isn't that 4 more weeks?
1 Mar 2012 8:26 PM
25 Jan 2006
Alberta
TeacherAnge
Devotee
1,612
I just want to pop in and out to say that I think it is VERY important that teachers get access to sick days (probably more sick days than the average professional).
However, I think the idea of being able to bank sick days and be payed out for them at some point is ludicrous. I have honestly never heard of any teacher anywhere doing that.
Someone earlier made the point about medical appointments & children's illness not being sick days and that teachers need to use a vacation day. This is something I feel really strongly about and think our union needs to get on top of. For the Alberta teachers at least, there are zero flex days or vacation days. If a father has a child - they have to call in sick. If a parent needs to stay home with a sick child - they have to call in sick. If a dayhome provider cannot provide - the teacher has to call in sick. I HATE that teachers are 'forced' into this sort of dishonesty!
IMO, our unions should be fighting for sick days & flex days for things like appointments and family obligations. But no one should be able to make $$ off the fact that they didn't get sick much during the school year.
Sorry - that was way longer than I intended...
1 Mar 2012 8:27 PM
4 Jun 2006
MrsMac07
Devotee
2,221
I'm not complaining about the inflexibility. I knew exactly what I was getting into when I decided to become a teacher. I'm merely pointing out what often gets lost in these "greedy, lazy teacher" threads.
Sure, we have benefits and perks. Teaching is an important, difficult job... if society wants highly qualified people to go into teaching, then, yeah, there has to be some incentive. But other professions have perks too... many professionals make more money than we do, have good vacation time (albeit not the summer) and have lots of flexibility in their daily schedules. Somehow, though, there aren't WB threads complaining about those people...
I have to ask... if the "vast majority of non-teachers" are so envious of our perks, then why not go into the profession? Like I told Mom2Buttheads, universities are still accepting applications.
I'm bringing up salaries because that's part of the post --- a wage freeze.
Why should teachers get a raise when there are many people experiencing a wage freeze?
Reason why I'm not a teacher --- I don't have the passion for it. I wouldn't be good at it. Not my cup of tea.
Am I envious they get raises? Darn right I am! Am I envious you get to bank sick days? Darn right I am! Does that I mean I want to be a teacher? No.
For the record, I don't think teachers are lazy. I think they're hard-working and a lot of the time, passionate about their jobs.
I'm merely wondering why teachers are so valued over other professionals? I am a professional and nowhere near as valued.
Angelaeve --- there are LOTS of people who are over-worked and under-paid. Doesn't that describe most of the current Canadian workforce?
Yes, very correct... We are paid for 197 days per year.
Ummm how am I not owning my choice of profession? I don't take holidays during tax season even though it would be nice. I don't take holidays during month-end or year-end. Although, that would also be nice. I own the fact that I'll constantly be taking courses for school and keeping myself up-to-date with current practices / law / etc. I wish I didn't have to but that's the nature of the business.
I don't complain about any of that.
Am I peeved I am not getting a raise while others are? Darn right! And I'll continue to complain about it!
However, that doesn't mean that I'm not owning my choice in profession and the crappy things about it.
I can see how that wouldn't work MrsMac. That wouldn't make sense.
1 Mar 2012 8:47 PM
30 Mar 2005
Durham Region
Mommasitta
Addict
3,641
<sigh> So I just can't walk away.
I don't get it. I don't get why every time a thread about teachers is brought up on WB the almighty arguement of "summers off" gets brought up. Why is our vacation time indicative of how easy or difficult our job is?
Is YOUR job made more or less difficult by how much time you get off work?
And why is this argument always viewed in a way that makes it seem like teachers think we work harder than anyone else? I don't think I work harder than anyone else. I think I deal with different stresses and pressures, but I don't think my job is more difficult. There are advantages and disadvantages with EVERY job. Teachers are no exception.
And I don't think ANY teacher would say that getting summers off isn't a serious perk of our job. I love my summers off and Christmas off with my kids. But it doesn't mean that I should have to tolerate things that are unfair just because I get sweet vacation time.
Ugh. Why can't we have an actual discussion about teachers on this board without it turning in to a "bash teachers" session? If all of you out there think teachers have it so awesome -- I invite you to spend ONE week...no, ONE DAY in my classroom and see what my job is really like. Seriously. Open invite.
Jugie --- I guess we can all say that we feel undervalued then.
I know I sound like a complete bee and completely insensitive. I just hope people understand where other are coming from too.
I suppose no job is a walk-in the park and it irritates me when so many people complain and are able to just walk off the job or negotiate things like that when there are others who have zero control over what happens.
I sincerely apologize if I've offended anyone or hurt any feelings.
1 Mar 2012 8:52 PM
21 May 2008
Oakville
Katosmama
Addict
2,662
Mommasitta, no one is saying that teachers have it easier than anyone else. What we are saying is that teachers have it the SAME as everyone else - you have some perks, you have some crap, just like the rest of us. That's why we don't necessarily agree that you deserve automatic raises each year, and so much sick time. Because you are the SAME as us, and we don't get it! Your jobs may not be the same as us...maybe some of us can take time off when we want, rather than in the summer, but those are the puts and takes of any job. I can't take all summer off, but I don't think that entitles me to 20 sick days a year.
1 Mar 2012 8:52 PM
4 Jun 2006
MrsMac07
Devotee
2,221
http://www.ouac.on.ca/teas/Apparently there are lots of education faculties in Ontario accepting applications. I've even included this handy link for those of you who are interested. HTH!
1 Mar 2012 9:02 PM
30 Mar 2005
Durham Region
Mommasitta
Addict
3,641
But haven't most teachers who commented in this thread agreed that 20 sick days is too much? And said that they would be agreeable to less sick days?
You guys have to understand where WE are coming from too. My wage increase as I earn more years in the profession is the ONLY way I get a raise. In almost every other professional career, you can ask for a raise or recieve one after perfromance reviews or recognition for good work. AND as you become more qualified in your profession through years of experience, you can move up the ladder in your position and earn more money.
Why is it so wrong for teachers to do this as well?
My pay grid caps out at 11 years experience. That's NEXT YEAR for me. So after that, unless our union negotiates pay increases in our contracts, I will earn the same amount of money for the rest of my career...no matter how many more years of experience and expertise I gain in this profession. How is that fair?
Lookit, I'm not saying that teachers don't earn good money. In most cases, we do. And maybe a wage freeze is reasonable if other government workers take a wage freeze as well. But why should only teachers take the hit? And furthermore, why not look at the SCHOOL BOARDS and the ridiculous things they spend money on? Why does the buck always stop with us?
1 Mar 2012 9:04 PM
21 May 2008
Oakville
Katosmama
Addict
2,662
Milly, this thread was started by a teacher complaining about the cuts. The rest of us are feeling like "sour grapes" when we hear this!
Its like the rich complaining that their gold bars are too shiny and then getting mad at those of us without gold bars for asking them to shut up about their shiny bars.
If they were taking away something that everyone else routinely had, we'd be upset right along with you. But to complain that they are taking away a perk that frankly seems excessive to those of us that don't get it, seems...petty?
1 Mar 2012 9:07 PM
30 Mar 2005
Durham Region
Mommasitta
Addict
3,641
Actually Katso -- the OP said "Have you read this?"
And the first teachers to reply to the thread, most agreed that a salary freeze might be agreeable and that we could get less sick days.
The first people to complain were the NON teachers.
ETA: And now I really am walking away from this thread.
Off to polish my gold bars.
1 Mar 2012 9:08 PM
12 Apr 2009
lovebug_11
Devotee
1,332
Summer holidays are great, but they are not paid and we don't have the option of working for pay during Christmas and Spring break. I teach in BC and we make significantly less than most teachers in Ontario, not to mention the rest of the country. I don't feel the need for a big raise, but keeing up with inflation would be nice. Not to mention that teachers spend a lot of their on money on classroom books, supplies, resources etc. I don't agree with being paid out for sick days, and we don't get that here in BC, but I am so tired of hearing people bash teachers. Our provincial government is currently trying to get rid of senority, allow for forced transfer of teachers at any time on the whim of the admin, and a review process that could result in being fired after one not-so-great review by one admin. Not to mention that they are refusing to let teachers bargain for class size and composition. Teachers get a lot of flak for going on strike or taking job action, but we are fighting for more than money; we are fighting for our rights and the best interests of the students. Sorry if this is rambly and all over the place; it has been a long day.
1 Mar 2012 9:09 PM
27 Apr 2006
Kitchener
Teacher_Wife
Raving Lunatic
10,046
If you want to compare, I'll use myself and my DH.
I'm a "new" teacher with 5 years of teaching experience, but only step 2 on the grid (group 4) due to not being able to get a full time job. I have 8 years of education in a technical field (well 7 in a technical field plus teacher's college) plus 2 extra qualifications. Last year, I officially worked 197 + 18 days of summer school = 215 days not including sick days or weekends (or the time spent in the summer planning, or marking over the holidays). I don't get benefits.
My DH has 9 years of experience in a technical field, and 5 years of education (the one year difference being for mat leave for me). He worked 233 days last year. He gets benefits, and flex time.
DH works 8-5. I work 7-4. DH does about one extra evening or half day every month. I work a half-day extra each week (Sunday morning), plus a couple of hours many nights (2-3 nights a week).
DH makes twice as much as I do after deductions (because I only managed to get 5/6 time). We're the same age.
Am I complaining? No. But for those who say that teacher "have it good". We don't. We have it the same. Oh, he got a 2.5% raise this year, and I'm not saying that we should get a raise, just don't @#$ with the grid.
1 Mar 2012 9:12 PM
2 Jan 2009
Nunavut
MillyHa
Postaholic
6,666
Yeah, I'm pretty much going to bow out of what's sure to be a circular argument. Any unionized profession has the right to negotiate their benefits. Some people hate unions, some people love unions. I'm very glad that I have a union that will fight for my right to be sick and to be paid my worth. Frankly, I don't care that you (general you) are mad that I get shiny bars. I shouldn't have to throw them away because others don't have them.
And I feel pretty strongly that NO ONE should ever be asked to give up benefits that they have with their jobs, no matter what the profession. I'll always support other professionals (from teachers, to secretaries, office staff, nurses, janitors, whatever) because once something's been given and you work for it, you shouldn't have to be asked to give it up. It's quite simple to me. That being said, I know I'm in a small minority. This thread is proof of that.
1 Mar 2012 9:15 PM
17 Oct 2010
ladykate
Chatterbox
383
I have a few things to say:
I am a BC teacher and I do not get 20 sick days.
This is my first year teaching full time and I am working harder and longer hours than I EVER have in my entire life. I mean 10+ hour days as well as taking work home with me.
I also make crap money. For the amount of money I spent trying to become a teacher, plus all the money I spend now to do my job well, the pay is almost funny. We have the highest cost of living in BC, however our teachers are paid 9th highest in the country. 9th!!! Like I said, it's almost funny.
All that being said, I love my job. It is long and tiring but very rewarding. I knew what I was getting into but it is still annoying and quite discouraging reading threads like these.
We did two days of strike and a "study day" last year as part of our negogiations. In Saskatchewan, that hadn't happened before. I don't wish that on anyone.
1 Mar 2012 9:30 PM
11 Feb 2007
MmeBruni
Addict
3,947
This is moving way too fast for me but just a couple of points.
1. Don't think I saw any "baristas" posting here...I am pretty sure I have seen educated professionals weighing in about their compensation and their benefits. Apples and apples.
2. I don't a lot of teacher-bashing around here, although of course there are people who are forceful and obnoxious about their opinions - no different than anything else. Raising questions and being critical of your complaints is not "teacher-bashing."
3. Teaching is, yes, different from other types of professions that aren't funded by tax dollars. I think that's just sort of the breaks when you're in the public service. We are dealing with stretched resources in our government and everyone is going to have an opinion about the best way to go about making the necessary cuts. No one wants it to be on their dime or in their backyard but obviously freezing the salary of private practice lawyers is a) outside the power of the government, and b) isn't going to save the government any money anyway. So that's irrelevant. We look to public sector salaries and benefits, often, as a way to save money. I don't think this is wildly offside in light of the fact that in general, public sector salaries and benefits measure up very well against comparable jobs in the private sector.
31 Oct 2012 11:59 PM
30 Apr 2012
buzzle.ca
buzzle
New Member
0
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