Beat Klossner Asks:
Preparing for bargaining for the next collective agreement between teachers and the employers is currently underway.
Should teachers/ support staff be considered an "essential service" when bargaining time comes around?
No!
An essential service is something of a "Life and Death" matter, like Fire Department, Policing, essential Health Care etc. These need to have basic service levels at all times to protect society. Therefore they are Essential Services.
Teachers/Support staff obviously don't fall under that category.
Essential Service Legislation have often been used to interfere with the basic bargaining rights of employees.
It is not acceptable to use "Essential Service Legislation" to interfere with the Bargaining rights for workers.