Dear editor,In response to Mr. Ellis (Record, March 14), who claims the ongoing mantra of public service unions is "less work, more pay."Play fair, Mr. Ellis. The BCTF, along with many other public service unions in this province, want one thing 鈥� to exercise its legal right to collectively bargain working conditions in its contract.Yes, it is true that negotiations include discussions about wage increases. But over the years union negotiations have brought us safe working conditions, health benefits, sick time, maternity leave, and weekends. Instead of disparaging working folk, ask yourself why our government pays CEOs of large companies, VIHA executives, and school administrators the exorbitant salaries that it does, yet does not value working people enough to contemplate a wage increase. Ask yourself why putting a roof on BC Place Stadium to the tune of $500 million was a higher priority than B.C. schoolchildren. In the real world, Mr. Ellis, our schoolchildren will be our future leaders and government. They will decide where public dollars are spent.Hopefully, these future leaders will receive the kind of education necessary to make informed decisions that benefit all of our community citizens not just the few who are already at the top. This current government needs to seriously examine its priorities. The majority of people in B.C. work for a living and in Tommy Douglas' immortal words, "It's time the mice stop voting for the cats."Shirley Ackland,Port McNeillEditor's note: Shirley Ackland is the president of the North Island College Faculty Association.
