tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1152406275633051342.post2727120071528560990..comments2013-09-04T18:49:49.490-07:00Comments on Elle Fury: A Play Within Politics and Politics Within a PlayElle Furyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07083514553195903225noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1152406275633051342.post-91136493732974638752013-01-21T15:02:11.066-08:002013-01-21T15:02:11.066-08:00Hi David,
Thanks for your comment.
It is hard to...Hi David,<br /><br />Thanks for your comment.<br /><br />It is hard to know what exactly we should do, but I have a few ideas.<br /><br />First of all, I think we (teachers and our unions) need to re-frame the issue, which really is not about teachers and the education system. We are the latest victims of the government's attack on the working and middle classes and we need this to be the central focus of all our discussions with the public. Let's get off the defensive and on the offensive. We should not be letting the government shape the discourse. <br />Ultimately, unions need to start seeing themselves not just as representatives of their members, but of all working and middle class people. To be honest, I think their long-term survival depends on it. The following article explains why in more detail: http://www.rabble.ca/news/2012/06/defeat-wisconsin-lessons-us-labour-movement<br /><br />I think we can also get a lot of inspiration from the Idle No More movement that is happening in Canada right now. All unions should be supporting it and can learn from the strategies being utilized there. Some of their activists are organizing workshops and teach-ins in order to explain to the public why they are unhappy. We could be doing the same! Since we are no longer running extracurricular activities, we can use this time to team up with other unions and organize events outside of school in which we invite students and parents to come and learn more about the history of and current issues in the labour movement. We could even come up and showcase an alternative budget in which we demonstrate that the cuts to education and other social programs are completely unnecessary. <br /><br />Lastly, if we want to see REAL change, we cannot be afraid to get more radical. Pretty much all progressive social movements that happened in history and were SUCCESSFUL included acts of civil disobedience. When Broten announced she was going to use Bill 115 to impose a contract on us, I think we should have gone on strike anyway and then refused to pay the fine. What is the government going to do? Throw us all in jail? If they did, then we would expose them for the fascists that they really are! <br /><br />We also need to organize more serious protests and demonstrations. I'm sorry but going out for an hour outside an MPP's office who isn't even there is completely useless. Can the symbolism and let's see some real action. It's time to start occupying government buildings, MPP's offices until they give us back what many early labour rights activists died for in previous centuries: our right to unionize and collectively bargain! <br /><br />I will end with one of my favourite quotes from Tony Benn http://www.tonybenn.com/ :<br /><br />"There is never a final victory for democracy. It’s always a struggle – in every generation. And you have to take up the cause time and time and time again."<br /><br />In solidarity,<br /><br />Elle<br />Elle Furyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07083514553195903225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1152406275633051342.post-31412871420035207362013-01-16T19:03:37.228-08:002013-01-16T19:03:37.228-08:00Nice one Elle. I will post a link on my teacher pr...Nice one Elle. I will post a link on my teacher protest blog. My only question to your critique of the political-economic system is: what do we do then? Are we beat no matter what?<br /><br />David at http://www.tsu3rdvp.blogspot.com<br /><br />Solidarity!Kulture Kult Inkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06068417179350455073noreply@blogger.com