At just over a month and a half into my program everything is on hold owing to a province‐wide strike by OPSEU college faculty members. I’m disappointed—things were just starting to make sense in my classes. News reports are suggesting this strike may go on for some time—whatever that means—so I’m going to do my best to make the best of the new time I have available to me during this setback.
That said, I fully support the striking faculty members. I do wish a strike could have been avoided—I view strikes as a public display of the failure of two sides to understand each other—but it is what it is, and I respect that. I’m happy also to see various student associations now becoming involved in the process. Fundamentally what is troubling about a strike or lock‐out is how those, usually groups within or the general public itself, who do not have a voice in the negotiations are now not only involved, but being used as leverage. And the term negotiations might not be accurate. From what I understand the College Employer Council dug their heels in and will not budge from any of their points—hardly a negotiation when one side isn’t going to do anything other than expect the other side to do all work. It’s discouraging to hear.
I did find one thing that cheered me up, and that’s the following video. I like numbers and what they do, so I’m ending the post here on a positive note before I start to rant about money, power, control, and the cost of idiots—just remember, proper education is important and requires proper investment.