No school? Not what we want to hear!
February 8, 2010 - 2:00pm — by
February 17th, 2010 is the day that thousands of Ontario College students are anxiously awaiting. This is the day where the final decision is made on whether or not students will be out of the classroom. With all this talk about a strike happening within colleges in Ontario, it’s getting me more nervous by the day. We as students are paying thousands of dollars to learn and become well educated in our desired field, and that may be taken away without our sanction. Many are enthused about their approaching graduation in the spring, but what will happen if our education comes to a sudden halt? Summer school? I really hope not.
On January 13th, 2010, approximately 9000 Ontario College instructors voted and gave their union the thumbs up to go forward with striking at 24 colleges across the province. The Ontario Pubic Service Employees Union quoted that roughly 57% of faculty voted in support of the strike. Even though the majority of instructors are in favour of the strike, they assured students and other faculty members that the earliest possible disruption would be in February. As talks are back on the table on whether or not the strike will actually occur, our days are numbered as February 17th is quickly approaching.
What do these faculty members really want to get out of this? More money and angry students is what it looks like to me. The union expressed that their key issues are workload and academic freedom. They have indicated that they want a 2.5 percent pay increase in each year over a three year contract.
What I don’t understand is that they have indicated that their issues are among their work load and academic freedom, and then they go on to express how they want a 2.5 percent pay increase. If it wasn’t about receiving more money, I don’t think they would be striking in the first place. Everyone wants more money, but what makes these instructors feel they deserve it more than employees in other important occupations?
How do you feel about thousands of motivated students possibly being taken out of the classroom?
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