So has anyone else heard about the faculty strikes in Pennsylvania? Faculty at 14 universities owned by the state of Pennsylvania when on strike, and what I did not know was that the athletic trainers also went on strike! I just read this and it baffled me. The schools are planning on using the graduate assistants that work at these schools who are certified as replacement ATs while the strike is going on. At least these schools have that! I don't think they ALL do, though. So what are the schools doing? They must be getting per diem ATs. But you know what? I think I'm happy that the ATs decided to join the strike. Underpaid and overworked? Yup. Usually. I don't know what the strike is actually about, but that would be my guess. If there is no replacement AT, do all sports have to cease? How does that work?
So I get the whole strike. I know why people do it. They feel like their institution is not treating them fairly. But now I think of our code of ethics. How can you strike when in the back of your mind there is an athlete that needs your help? It's just something I can't wrap my head around. Like I said, I know why they're doing it. And I agree with them and would probably join in. But I would also be sitting there thinking about all the athletes I have left behind to be dealt with by a replacement who knows nothing about them. Morally, I don't think I would be able to strike. But we definitely need to do something to make us as professionals treated fairly and be appreciated as a medical field.
Anyone else have an idea of what you would do or how you would handle a strike? I just don't know what I would do!
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