There are ongoing negotiations between my union, the British Columbia Teacher's Federation, and the provincial government. As a teacher, this has caused me to reflect on my profession and my position as a member of a union.
I woke up for picket duty at 5 a.m. singing "We Shall Overcome". As I rode my bike on a beautiful June morning, I continued to sing, "Deep in my heart, I do believe, that we shall overcome some day." This brought me in touch with the civil rights movement, led by Martin Luther King in the United States, which brought to mind Gandhi, the man who inspired King. I realized at that moment that I am a part of something that is very big and very powerful. This is about more than a wage increase and classroom composition, this is about the progression of humanity. Canada has a public education system that is the envy of much of the world. It is no coincidence Canadian public school teachers are unionized.
As I rode my bike, it came to mind that I shared a common spirit with great leaders of all faiths, and by sharing that spirit, I could gather their strength and inspiration within me. I said, "I am a Baptist, like Dr. King. I am a Catholic, like Dorothy Day. I am a Muslim, like Malcolm X. I am a Hindu, like Gandhi. I am a Buddhist, like the Dali Lama. We are on this mission together." As I approached picket duty, by bicycle seemed to be flying.
Checks and balances are vital for democracy to function. Labour unions are part of that system of checks and balances. They have resulted in better laws for the entire population. We now have child labour laws, a 40 hour work week, safer workplaces, and in Canada, an excellent public education system.
Collective bargaining brings stability to our economies, but effective arbitration is vital. If the demands of a union are unsustainable, the industry will falter. We have seen examples of this in the manufacturing sector. Is that a realistic fear with regard to education? I believe that it can be more easily argued that meeting the demands of our teachers is vital to the maintenance of our standard of living. Though imperfect, our school system works very well and the product of our schools (an educated populace) is always improving. In addition, our schools adapt to meet current societal demands that were once met by other institutions.
In Western countries, there is a growing gap between the rich and the rest of the population. The economist Thomas Piketty discusses this extensively and points out the dangers. To avoid these dangers, we need to be able to tap into the greatness of all Canadian children, regardless of their current economic status, and thus maintain a strong economy.
The bottom line is that Canada is a great country. Our ancestors have worked out an excellent system of checks and balances. This system needs to be respected. Being on strike is not a pleasant thing. I would much rather be teaching; but, I understand the importance of what I am a part of. We've come this far by faith, and all will be well.
