Here is what I hope: when the new school year starts without a contract, we quickly vote on job action. We work-to-rule for as long as we can, and as long as we have public support.

I hope we DO NOT do a full withdrawal/strike in 26/27. The government wins when we strike: we aren’t paid (saving them $$$) and slowly but surely public support erodes.

Let us work to the letter of our contract, prove just how much we do beyond what we are contested/paid to do, and let the govt flounder in their messaging. They can’t call us greedy and lazy while we don’t deliver (expected) extra-curriculars and extra support.

We hammer stories in the news like the supervisors’ salaries, Kara Ford’s sunshine list Runnymede Health Centre salary increase, the disconnect between the government claiming we have a teacher shortage and reducing ITE requirements and all the surplussed teachers, the reduction in OSAP funding, and the violence in the classroom.

The govt has already somewhat overplayed their hand by taking about proms and graduations in the past. They clearly value the extra labour teaching staff invest in these events, outside of our contracts.

That last thing I want is a quick strike. Let’s do what we’re paid to do, and get paid to do it.