SCHOOL FOR THOUGHT

Teachers Are Not Sheep

The comments on “If the Student Hasn’t Learned, the Teacher Hasn’t Taught” have evolved into a discussion on teachers’ unions. To some, it is almost incomprehensible that rank-and-file teachers cling so strongly to their unions. After all, in most jurisdictions teachers are forced to join the union if they want to teach in a public school, and they have no option but to pay the approximately $1000 union dues annually. Furthermore, the unions turn around and spend some of these forced dues on left-wing political activities, such as working to defeat conservative political candidates - even though many teachers do not support left-wing causes. Lastly, the teachers’ unions frequently indulge in outrageous antics and extreme positions that harm the reputation of the profession and turn public opinion against teachers.

Some commenters believe that teachers are being skilfully manipulated by their unions into meekly toeing the party line. And there may be some truth in this theory. Certainly, there is a constant barrage of propaganda from the unions about evil conservative politicians, teacher bashing, threats to teachers on every side, and so forth. But there at least two other - much more compelling - reasons for teachers to support their unions.

In the first place, the unions are extremely effective at negotiating their members’ contracts. In Ontario, at least, unionized teachers earn considerably more than private school teachers, while being asked to devote less teaching time and receiving much richer benefits and pensions. 

In the second place, most unionized teachers are employed by a large school board - in many cases the only possible source of employment in their geographical area. In economics, this state of affairs is referred to as a monopsony - a market situation where the entire demand for a product or service consists of only one buyer. As such, a monopsonist can often dictate terms to its suppliers in the same way that a monopolist can dictate terms to its buyers. Most teachers correctly perceive that they would be at the mercy of their employer without the protection of a strong union.

If individual principals were free to hire teachers and set salaries, teachers’ loyalty to their unions would probably be greatly reduced.