Editor: Thanks must be given to Lyle Phillips for providing me with the full facts regarding the teachers’ strike.
I realize that I was a little hard on teachers in my previous letter.
Perhaps my comments should have been directed at the BCTF instead.
I do appreciate the job teachers are doing under difficult circumstances and did appreciate the teachers who taught our sons at West Langley Elementary and Mountain Secondary.
Both sons now have successful careers.
Are teachers aware that there is another portion of the population who do not belong to a union and do not have the benefits which unions provide their members?
During 47 years of marriage my husband was self employed for a majority of those years.
We didn’t have the security of a regular pay cheque every month and there was no overtime pay, no holiday pay, no sick leave pay, no dental coverage, etc. Not even a holiday every year.
Referring to a comment by Lyle Phillips, my husband also went through university without any financial assistance.
It always has meant counting pennies for us and I’m sure there are many others in a similar position.
That is why I have difficulty understanding why those with a regular pay cheque and benefits that we never had still want more.
I guess I am just envious.
I do agree with teachers that more money is needed to improve class size and composition. But if the working conditions are that bad for teachers, how come so many are trying to get into the teaching profession?
Let’s hope all parties concerned, including the minister of education, come to their senses soon and a fair agreement is reached.
Joy Stadnyk
Langley