Photo credit - Creative Commons: Antoinette Spencer
As a college counsellor and faculty member, I stand with the
rest of my teaching faculty because I hear their frustations. On and off the picket lines, I have had the
opportunity to talk to numerous teaching faculty who in addition to teaching
also help to improve the learning environment for students in various ways. We have worked together on many different
platforms, whether it’s in a classroom, while making student referrals to our
services or while sitting on different committees together. Teaching faculty also reach out to us when
they are concerned about students well-being which can range from a student
having a difficult time transitioning to post-secondary, not being able to
concentrate and complete their coursework because of other psycho-social or
mental health factors, a potential learning disability or a student in crisis
reaching out which can have many different presentations. Thus, it takes a respectful college community
and the ’entire college community’ to provide quality education and remove
learning barriers for students. I and my
counselling colleagues cannot do this alone.
"The pure lack of respect in the
collective
bargaining process is
not part of my professional ethics"
I only became aware of the amount of precarious work our
college system has created and the disparity of the increase of administrators
vs. full-time faculty staff complement in recent months. I am deeply troubled by the erosion of the
campus community spirit and know this is necessary when any change is to happen
whether it be bettering education or campus mental health. As a lifelong learner, I’m disappointed by
the rhetoric and would like to see the same critical thinking and creativity
skills we ask of our students to be enshrined in the academic freedom language
of our future collective agreement. Therefore, I am very disheartened that the
bargaining process has not been a respectful one. It is at this point that I
must highlight that as a regulated health professional I uphold a standard of
ethics. Two ethical standards that apply especially during this very disturbing
state of recent events include justice and support for colleagues. As per my
regulatory body it states:
Justice: To strive to
support justice and fairness in my professional and personal dealings, and
stand against oppression and discrimination.
Support for Colleagues:
To respect colleagues, co-workers, students, and members of other
disciplines; to work collaboratively; and to inspire others to excellence.
It is for this reason that I vote “NO” and stand with my
college faculty!