Alberta Teachers' Strike: Struggle Against the Tories Continues
Since day one of the "Klein Revolution" it seemed obvious that eventually something, someone, somewhere, would break. The unions were caught unawares and stood idly by as welfare and unemployment benefits were slashed. Soon public utilities were sold off and threats were levelled against our sacred healthcare. Teachers and nurses bought into "fiscal responsibility" and took pay cuts to help advance the assault against the institutions their unions and associations had fought hard to establish just 40 years ago. Now after ten, or twelve, or fifteen years of Tory rule (how long has it been anyway?), and continuous cuts to education and health, we can see the results of this fiscal responsibility. Teachers in the province have reached breaking point. Their wage cuts years ago - which they have never been able to regain - coupled with the rising cost of living in the province and the huge slashes to the education system resulting in larger class sizes, longer days and less to work with, have left them frustrated and angry.