I believe that Unions have their place in the workforce when they are used to truly protect people who need protecting; people such as unskilled labourers who are trained to do one thing and would have trouble finding another job, or people whose safety is at risk on a daily basis. The mining industry comes to mind. But I have no sympathy for trained professionals who are in unions…yes, teachers included.

I also believe that most unions have been given far too much power and are not reasonable in their negotiations.

I work for a not-for-profit. I don’t have job security. I don’t have a guaranteed wage increase. I don’t get paid for unused sick-days. If I screw up at my job, I can be fired. I can’t bank my salary for a year’s sabbatical. We don’t have a leave-of-absence policy. My husband hasn’t received a wage increase equal to cost-of-living in over five years.

I don’t understand how teachers can prepare their students for real world life when they are so drastically out of touch themselves.

If anyone needs a contract to protect education, it’s the students. Not the teachers. I am so sick of hearing teachers whine about how hard they have it.