An Unfortunate Tendency To Greed

"Should a member ... not participate in the [strike], [they] may be subject to disciplinary action.  A monetary fine of up to $500 per day, publication of name in a Federation publication, suspension of the right to hold office in the Federation and suspension of Federation services except those required by law."
Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario memo

Sounds like a threat.  Oh, it is a threat.  Don't agree with the union, feel your salary is just great and you can skip a raise for the current contract, and don't mind giving up a few days of your uber-generous sick days, and feel it's fair enough not to be able to cash them in, you'd better keep all that close to your vest - or stuff it in your brassiere. 

Think it, but don't say it. 

Do as most teachers do.  Toe the line.  Although it's in your contract, don't arrive and leave fifteen minutes pre-and post-classroom time.  Don't prepare report cards.  Don't bother meeting with parents.  And don't, DO NOT surrender to the temptation to engage in any extracurricular activities that might benefit your students.

If the union decides you should engage in a warning-over-the-bow one-day strike, you do it.  You do not have the freedom to disengage yourself from union activities.  Or you will pay the penalty for doing so.  This is the union, needless to say, that is screeching from the rooftops that its democratic rights have been abrogated.  Your democratic right to respectfully disagree is another story.

Dalton McGuinty's kindly generosity to teachers in submitting to all their union demands in the previous two settlements were appreciated, hugely.  The teachers' unions whipped their members into line during election time and boasted that they single-handedly, as it were, were responsible for getting the man and his party re-elected when other sectors of the population were anxious to oust him for mismanagement of the economy.

At this juncture the Ontario economy is in parlous shape, with a staggering debt and dreadful deficit.  Payback time for the teachers; in that the pathetic thought crossed Premier McGuinty's addled brain that his past generosity would pave the way for social responsibility on the part of the teachers.  In respect of that deficit they would agree to pass over a raise and accept a few contract roll-backs. 

In his dreams - the wild and woolly ones with surround sound and full technicolour.

Bill 115 has proven to be anathema to the unions, an insult to the teachers, an assault upon their professionalism, their value to society, and a slam against democracy.  Two year wage freeze? Not on your life.  Cutting back annual sick days from 20 to 10, forget it.  Unused days rolled over to be cashed in upon retirement - hands off!

But no, it's not all that that the teachers take umbrage with.   They don't really mind that at all.  It's the legislated contract, taking away from collective bargaining.  It violates their rights  under the Charter.  Of course, if the government changes its mind and forces the union to accept a raise, reinstitutes sick days and agrees cashing them in will continue, the loss of bargaining rights will be grudgingly accepted.

A sacrifice they would be willing just this once to countenance with full expectation that their democratic bargaining rights would be re-installed next round. 

Democracy uber alles.