It's like this at all levels of any public sector.  Near me there's a small country school, just over 100 kids, 8 teachers (plus principal), and almost every one is on fully-paid leave of one kind or another ("stress leave" being the most popular, and apparently it's contagious) - and even a couple of their replacements are now on fully-paid leave too.  In some cases a classroom of about 16 kids is costing 3 full-time teachers' salaries, plus benefits and pensions, being paid at once.  Now if that's happening all over, no wonder provincial government debt levels are soaring.  But the unions love it, and so does the provincial Liberal government which certainly appreciates the teachers' support every election time.