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?
As a lawyer I can tell you that it is not as easy as just making this sort of declaration. Every Canadian has constitutional rights and governments cannot simply declare something as essential. For example, unions and management have generally been able to work out sensible solutions to establish essential service levels in areas of nursing and fire protection. Education is important but it is not a life and death matter. As such, any declaration of essential service would likely be unconstitutional.