Funny you should mention this:

One of the non-binding recommendations from Vince Ready is that we accept an equalization of salaries, throughout B.C.

That means that the nearly $3,500.00 in my lost wages and strike pay(as a result of my protest), will go to pay the salary increase of my colleagues in rural areas - even though their cost of living is much less.

Where is the justice in that?

It will also pay for long term disabilility (which not many qualify for) and an increase in wages for teachers on call.

Everything else is a promise to consult. (We know what that means!)

Altogether, the govt. will put about one million dollars into the system and our lost wages equal almost exactly the same amount.

There is exactly 0 in those recommendations that will directly benefit me and my students. The primary teachers of Vancouver are, once again, subsidizing the system.

We will probably vote this week-end to accept these recommendations because we have been away from our students too long.

Personally, I will vote no. I'm all for sacrificing for the greater good but I contend that the government has not contibuted any more to this settlement than it has cost me, personally. No loss to them, big loss to me.

Like I say, the vote will probably be 'yes' and the losers are not only the Vancouver primary teachers and their students, but also the parents and other labour unions who have supported us.

I am hoping for a 'no' vote because I think the only thing that will make this govt. put additional money into education is a general strike. I honestly think such a punitive govt. deserves to be brought to their knees by the workers of this province.

If they can do this to us, they can do this to you.

I will guarantee that if I have to go back into the classroom on Monday, my caseload of fifty will be off-loaded onto the classroom teachers. I refuse to try to make up for the defecits in a system that is broken. That means that the higher-end of primary children needing learning assistance will no longer be given additional support. These are usually the kids who are getting very little help at home for one reason or another.

It breaks my heart.

"There you go honey, sink or swim."