An intolerable situation
Our freedom to unionize is basically a good thing, but it is incredible that in our modern western society we allow the kind of situation we have now with the Ontario college strike. I have no issue with the teachers, part- time or not, trying to get a better deal for themselves. At this point, it seems that the only weapon in their arsenal is to go on strike.
There is an alternative, but it’s too late for that. I’ll get back to that later.
We have living with us an 18- year old from let’s say off- shore, a recent Canadian immigrant. She has few pecuniary resources other than what we provide and she is waiting anxiously for OSAP support. The matter she needs to pursue most at the moment is her education for, among other things, self- advancement.
Needless to say, by this strike she is being thwarted in that pursuit and thus her future is being jeopardized, sabotaged by powers beyond her or our control and it is costing her money.
Money for what? For nothing. This is an intolerable situation and, as far as I am concerned, to Ontario’s shame.
It’s no wonder that many people take a dim view of unions, specially when one considers the fact that too many unions do not include in their collective agreements a binding arbitration clause. Thus, a strike can drag on and on without there being any glimmer of hope for a solution. For those not acquainted with the terminology, binding arbitration is when a third party, mutually agreed- upon at the inception of the collective agreement, will make a decision if and when the two parties cannot agree.
A collective agreement is forged in debate between the two parties at a point in time when things are good, when we can smilingly agree on things like “whom shall we together appoint as the arbitrator?” The agreement itself is for when things are bad. Good times are gone, bad times are here.
What did the union do to prevent this? Nothing, except holding up their collective hands for union dues.
What did the colleges do to prevent this? Nothing, except for hoping for the best.
Our “off- shore” resident has a bitter taste of Ontario.