The stream of cars honking as they drive past picketers on busy streets. The number of parents delivering food (one of our parents actually brought out his barbecue and made our staff hamburgers for lunch) to their school's staffs. This teachers' strike has definitely captured a large portion of public support.

Although recent newspaper editorials (Vancouver Sun, Globe and Mail) have basically read "although teachers have some good reasons to be disgruntled, they are breaking the law and should get back to work," their Letters to the Editor sections have been almost entirely filled with supportive and eloquent letters. Some, of course, have been from teachers. But many more have been from parents and grandparents who have been in the schools and noted the declining conditions. And yet others have been from members of other unions who have dealt with the provincial government in recent years, and whose contracts will be expiring within the next year.

A couple of things have made the difference this time around:

* the provincial government's recent history of handling union contracts. Legislating a continuation of our current contract (which was imposed on us in the first place) without being willing to negotiate was just a slap in the face. And it was a slap that couldn't help but stir up memories for the members of unions that have also dealt with the government in contract "negotiations" these past few years. So other unions are definitely on board.

* classroom conditions have become noticably worse (which I've already described in the previous entry) so many parents are on board, despite having to scramble for childcare (as I type this, As It Happens, on CBC Radio-One, is playing feedback from parents who are in favour of what teachers are doing).

Nobody likes being on strike, or the inconveniences that strikes occasion. But sometimes you've got to take a stand. And we teachers appreciate all those who are now standing with us.


Links of Interest
* Crawford Killian, an instructor at North Vancouver's Capilano College, has a good article in The Tyee about the history in the 1980's between schools and the government.
* Gabriel Yiu, also in The Tyee, writes a supportive article from a parent's point of view