Over 500 UBC workers and students attended a teach-in and rally in support of striking BC teachers this afternoon at the Faculty of Education building on Main Mall.
Jenien Tang, Executive Chairperson of the UBC Education Students Association, expressed the support of student teachers for the striking teachers. She described the deteriorating learning conditions in BC schools and added people “don’t enter the field of teaching because of the money…they want to nurture, inspire and guide students on a path where they will always be willing to learn. As teachers of tomorrow, we want to give back…what was once given to us, an education that has gotten us this far. If it weren’t for the teachers’ dedication to make a positive difference, I wouldn’t be standing up here today.”
CUPE members have been tremendous supporters of the teachers and CUPE 116 president Colleen Garbe delivered a passionate speech to the crowd that highlighted the importance of soliardity among all workers in the province.
Garbe also announced that there will be job actions across the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley this Friday.
[Late on Wednesday afternoon the UBC administration sent a memo to all university adminstrators announcing that CUPE members were being removed from the payroll for this Friday (the day of the CUPE job action). The memo says “regardless of the political background to this dispute and individual perceptions as to whether it is justified, this is an illegal job action and we encourage and expect all employees to come to work. It is also our view that Policy 64–Crossing of Picket Lines, does not apply to illegal picket lines. Realistically however, as we anticipate that some faculty with teaching responsibilities will plan not to attend work, we expect them to advise their department heads as soon as possible.”
Prior to the UBC rally on Wednesday the university resorted to intimidation tactics with a memo to administrators about the teach-in and rally declaring that “we expect staff and faculty to be at work. Any withdrawal of services or establishment of picket lines is illegal.”]
Kitsalano Secondary School teacher Paul Orlowski thanked CUPE members in particular and BCFL unions in general for their solidarity with teachers in resisting Bill 12. He also described the role of a strong public education system, collective bargaining rights, and civil dissent as foundations for Civil Society. Orlowski concluded by declaring that “JUSTICE IS ALWAYS ABOVE THE LAW, ANY LAW!”
Education professor, and event co-organizer, Stephen Petrina told the student teachers in the crowd, “it is crucial, that you adopt a strong pro-union position. Your future depends on it. Since 2001, this Liberal government cut 2600 teachers from the system. This means that when you leave the University of British Columbia, your chances of finding a full-time teaching job is getting slimmer and slimmer…. Since 1996, union density in Canada has been declining. In 1999, union density dropped below the important level of 30%. The highest density rates are in education, where 70% of all teachers in Canada are union members. Please act on this privilege and right on behalf of all workers!!!”
I directed my own remarks to teacher education students, noting that passions for working with youth and/or teaching a particular subject matter are necessary but insufficient characteristics for being a truly effective teacher. “Whose interests are your working for? To whom are you really accountable? Answering these questions can clarify your role as a teacher and who you share interests with. Campbell’s Liberals, the Business Council of BC, and the mainstream media all have a clear understanding of whose interest they serve…and it’s capital. This strike is a dramatic statement by teachers that our shared interests are with students and other workers…the lesson to be taken back to the classroom after this strike is that a discourse of obedience diverts attention away from who benefits from the status quo… merely demanding that others follow the rules, is at odds with teaching for social justice.”
Other speakers included:
Faculty of Education student and ESA Senator Joe Mergern
Faculty of Education graduate students, Carla Peck & Wendy Neilson
Dave Asgeirsson, CUPE 2278 Executive Board member
Irene Lanzinger, BCTF Executive Committee member
University Hill Secondary Students, Layne Young and Alicia Smith
Anne Guthrie Warman, Vice-president of the Vancouver Secondary Teachers Association
Noel Herron, Vancouver School Board Trustee and former VSB principal
Lana Hill, kindergarten teacher at General Gordon Elementary
Charles Menzies, parent and professor in Dept. of Anthropology & Sociology
Faculty of Education professors, E. Wayne Ross, & Kit Grauer
SP and EWR would like to express thanks to all the students who helped to advertise, set up, knock down, and record the event. Also thanks to all the speakers and everyone who came out to support the teachers.
Follow
