BC teachers' strike, 2005 - what the Alberta teachers are going through.

 

Garibaldi teachers, on strike, October 2005.  That's me, 2nd in on the right.

I understand the need to strike.  For me, it was about class size and composition, something our Alberta brethren understand only too well.  Money has been less of an issue as I have always been satisfied with my salary.  I have stood in line with my colleagues, a placard strung around my neck, weathering the elements, as I stood up to the powers drawing up the contracts.

Ah, contracts.  The good old days of contracts being worth something.  And then, with the stroke of a pen, they meant nothing.  The BC government took it upon itself to tear up the very law itself by unilaterally declaring all teacher contracts null and void.  Behold - the Autocracy of BC was born.  We all know the outcome of this atrocity.  The law eventually won, but not before the BC government spent 2.6 million defending their hypocrisy and the BCFT spent untold millions. 

Not to be outdone, the Alberta government went a step further by exercising the "not withstanding" clause of the Canadian Constitution.  This gives the federal or provincial government power to override any part of our freedom laws (like making a contract) for a period of 5 years without an appeal or legal process to challenge it.  It's sort of like ripping up a contract, except doing it with a bulldozer instead of a pair of shears.  

And behold, the Autocracy of Alberta has been born.  Watch out Canada - it appears your provincial governments are learning.

Thanks for reading.

Eric Svendsen     www.ericspix.com