Picket duty

So, I'm into my 3rd day of part time picket duty. It's already getting old. I can't imagine how the Telus workers feel. Today it was cold and rainy. There's still an amazing amount of support from our parent community. While I was there, one of the dads brought us Tim Horton's coffees, another family brought by fresh baking and yet another brought an assortment of goodies to keep us snacking! I'm sure we're all going to gain weight.

We so need this to end though. I'm praying for a quick resolution. It's stressing me out. Every time I drive to my school I get a knot in my stomach. It feels so vulnerable and "out there" to be on the line. I'm still sure I wouldn't cross the line and staying home seems cowardly so my only option is to make the best of a bad situation and be there with my colleagues. This fight is really not about wages and it's becoming less and less about classroom conditions. This fight is increasingly about the government's actions towards the unions and the collective bargaining process. "Negotiate, don't legislate" was the billboard I saw on the news tonight.

Negotiating means someone is going to have to give in. I'm not sure the government will. The teachers will have to go back to work eventually....we can't live on nothing. I'm just scared that we'll go back without a negotiated contract. That's a recipe for a lot of disgruntled teachers.

I don't know what the answer is and I'm so glad I don't have to make the big decisions. The unions leaders and politicians can have their jobs....I'd just like mine back.