PART TWO: Taking it to University Avenue "All it takes for evil to prosper is for good people to do nothing" Introduction to Part TWO This second part corresponds to an escalation of the struggle from the local neighbourhood consciousness-raising stage to the stage of political action at the level of the provincial government --represented by Queens' Park and University Avenue. This broad tree-lined boulevard was a new type of street for this new setting of escalated polical action. This second phase of the struggle is dominated by anticipation concerning the outcome of the government's request for an injunction from the court ordering us back to work.

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DAY THREE: Wednesday 29 October AND I ALWAYS THOUGHT And I always thought:the very simplest words Must be enough. When I say what things are like Everyone's heart must be torn to shreds. That you'll go down if you don't stand up for yourself Surely you see that Bertolt Brecht This, the third day, Oakwood teachers were glad to be back hiting the pavement in front of our own school. In talking with many teachers, it seems that some had not enjoyed picketing the Board office because of the numbers of strangers there and because some Board employees had crossed our lines. This suggests that we broke Alinsky's rule #4 that the action has to be something that people enjoy doing. This morning the government presented their evidence to the court in the hope of winning an injunction to end the strike. The Toronto Star headline read "Lawyers plan bid to stop walkout" In the afternoon, we all went to the Mowat Block for a large demonstration. There were excellent speeches, including several by young elementary school students, parents, and others. (see photo below) the author, David Fletcher (left) and three teachers in front of Oakwood C. I.

DAY FOUR: Thursday 30 October By now we were getting quite good at picketing. Our shifts were organized and punctual. The major news today had to do with the talks between the union leaders and the government. While our representatives had made some offers (a five point plan) the Minister, Johnson had announced the intention to introduce an ammendment to 160 which would vindictively remove principals and vice principals from the bargaining units, thereby taking them out of the unions. On the other hand, he also said that non-certified teachers would only be used to compliment and not replace certified teachers. Few of us were hopeful that these talks would end the strike. The major topics of conversation were what to do if the injunction were granted and how to escalate the protest to a general strike. In regards to the latter, Syd Ryan, Ontario president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, was very vocal. He said that at an OFL meeting Monday he would call for such a general strike and urge that a date be set. There were also things happening at OISE/UT. There was an Information session during which panelists expressed concern that Bill 160 dealt mainly with issues of control and money rather than changes that would really improve education. Research was evoked which showed that this approach does not work to bring about improvements in teaching or learning in practice. The headline of the Toronto Star on this day read: ". 'Lawless' teachers attacked by Harris" That afternoon I went to my 3308F course at OISE. After a short discussion in class we decided that as a group we would attend a special meeting of the Faculty Council. At this meeting two motions were passed unanimously opposing Bill 160 and supporting the teachers' strike. In my mind, however, such 'motherhood' motions meant little. I was afraid that starting next week, after the injunction passed and we stayed out on the picket lines, that we would be facing fines and the imprisonment of our leaders. Something with more teeth was called for. The mood of the house was such that I felt it to be a opportunity to push the envelope a little and propose a motion that might not otherwise be moved. Unfortunately, as I am neither a faculty member nor a student representative I could not put forward a motion. Professor Joel Weiss came forward though and said that my motion had sufficient merit that it deserved to be moved and discussed. The motion was: "BIRT, if the government of Ontario exercises repressive measures (such as imprisonment and/or fines), against striking Ontario Teachers' Federation members, the OISE/UT Faculty Council would, within twenty-four hours, call for a general withdrawl of services with the intent of shutting down OISE/UT." (see attached) The motion at first received anoying nervous laughter but then settled down into a reasonable discussion --including support. I think to the surprise of many, when it came to a vote, it carried with a large majority. This was reported in the Star the next day as "almost unanimous". Joel Weiss was also quoted in this Star article. (see attached). On this day, our union leaders announced a five point plan which was to be presented tohe government at 7:00 pm. This plan offered many compromises, including allowing all sections of the bill dealing with funding; an offer to negotiate amalgamated school boards; refering the issue of non-certified teachers to a special task force; and negotiate length of school year. In hindsight not alot, but the government still refused to even meet with the leaders. Instead, Johnson issued the press release which announced his intention to introduce an ammendment removing principals and vice principals from the unions. This move was not only petty and vindictive, it was also inflammatory and polarizing. In a negotiating situation, introducing new and controversial demands is "not bargaining in good faith" and is illegal for good reasons --its inevitably provokes conflict. To see more cartoons related to the protest, click here

DAY FIVE: Friday 31 October and the Weekend Today after picketing all morning at Oakwood, most of us went to our local MPP's constituency office. Many of us went to the office of the MPP for our area, Isabelle Basset. Her office, at 620 Spadina, became swarmed with picketers. Today, the United Steelworkers' Ontario Alternative Budget Working Group released a report which states that Bill 160 will "create chaos in the funding of our schools" because of its provisions transferring school financing away from local boards to the provincial government. The headline of THE TORONTO STAR today is "Johnson, teachers reject new proposals". . . As expected, the government went to court today to request an injunction ordering us back to work on the grounds that the protest was causing irreparable harm to the students and others. As during the week, the topic of discussion over the weekend was first, would MacPherson grant the injunction (which we thought he would), and second, if he did, what would we do. Most of us insisted that we would disobey the injunction, even though the penalties for defying the injunction could mean fines of up to $1,000. per day per member and each of the unions could face fines of up to $25,000. per day per affiliate. Leaders could also be jailed. Some other members thought being ordered back would be a convenient "out", and excuse to end the strike without appearing to back down to the government. After all, they argued, our fight was with the politicians and policies of this particular government, which do not deserve our respect. Our fight was not with the judges and courts, which do deserve our respect.

DAY SIX: Monday 3 November After picketing a while in the early morning, I went to an information picket in front of OISE/UT organized by both students and staff. There was a good turn-out and the speakers there were very strong. From there I joined my collegues at the Area West Education Office at D'Arcy and Beverley. It was there in the afternoon that we heard the news of Justice MacPherson's decision not to grant the injuction. The immediate reaction on the line and from passers by was celebratory. We cheered and passing cars honked and waved. Eileen Lennon called it a "moral victory" for teachers. The Toronto Star headline today was "Tories, teachers are still talking". At 4:00 this afternoon District 15 had a special meeting for all Branch Presidents and picket captains at the Steelworkers' Hall on Cecil St. We voted unanimously to urge the provincial OSSTF and the OTF to approach the OFL about a general strike. There was some discussion about how to deal with strike-breakers, but there were so few of them in Toronto that most of us had mixed feelings. In addition to this ambiguity there was the fact that it was not a "conventional" strike but rather a protest. Therefore the principles we apply to strike-breaking were questionable here. At this time, there also came to the surface, a variety of opinions. Some members felt that we should be getting strike pay. We were told that this was not an option because the conditions under which the strike fund monies are to be used is strickly restricted to legal strikes --which this was not. Some members also expressed concern that the leadership was not taking a strong enough position. For example, Marshall Jarvis had said: "We're not out to gut the bill". Phyllis Benedict suggested that only the "more harmful parts" of Bill 160 be removed. Many members at the meeting insisted that we stand firm that we did indeed want the bill gutted.

The Lessons from the Political Struggle There are many lessons to be gleaned from the political dimension of this struggle. Defeat at the Political Level At the level of legislative politics we knew we would loose --and we did. The Tories have a majority government of 81 MPPs compared to 48 other MPPs and it did not look as though even one backbencher would vote against the government. The Liberals and NDP were putting up a fight but with no real chance of stopping the bill. The Curriculum of the Political Street Classroom The curriculum of the political street classroom was much more distant, more removed, in comparison with the curriculum of the local street. While we argued with the politicians, it seemed really that we were aiming past them at the media. Lessons Concerning the Media

Click here to see a collection of cartoons on the protest (from a variety of sources)

Details of related events in chronological order

Links to related web sites

continue to PART THREE

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