Class size and composition is a management right (power) and doesn't belong in contracts. Principals in particular require the power to shuffle sizes to accommodate fluctuations in cohort population, unbound by fixed limits.
Public needs should not be held hostage for compensation gains. Governments should disallow it if providers cannot restrain themselves. People undertaking careers to serve public needs - what used to be called "professions" - ought to understand there are implied sacrifices, including giving up the right to withhold labour.
It should be obvious by inspection that the long run of time during which public agencies could push their gains above the averages for the economy as a whole has ended. Nor can we afford every desirable improvement (eg. smaller class sizes in schools, home delivery for mail). The sum of services is being squeezed out by payroll costs, taxpayers facing current housing costs cannot tolerate tax increases (which would have practical upper limits anyways and would tend to depress economic growth), and governments are borrowing alarming amounts.
Fiscal and economic stresses are only likely to worsen, which means the eventual snap back will only be harder if people don't stop over-demanding.
globalnews.ca
