Not always right to strike

I do appreciate that employees have the right to be treated fairly when in contract negotiations. Now that we finally have a resolution to the York University strike, we are now faced with the possibility of the elementary teachers federation may strike. We don’t need, I REPEAT, we don’t need another education strike.

I think teachers in all public educational institutions should be deemed essential services and prohibited from striking. The fact is that when teachers go on strike, it affects people’s lives. You would never see McDonald’s workers going on strike because I could always go to Burger King or Wendy’s.

I don’t understand why teachers (or anybody for that matter) are so reluctant to give up the right to strike, as the binding-arbitration process would replace it. Arbitration is a very powerful negotiating tool, especially since it is the employees who usually come out the winners. That and you remain at full pay during contract negotiations (as opposed to strike pay) and get back-pay when the contract is finally ratified.

I hope Premier McGinty is finally listening, but I’m not holding my breath.