Before our contract, we had no rights whatsoever and no security whatsoever.

This is a vote of confidence in the power of collective bargaining. It was an exercise in persistence.

We're in a much better position than we were. This helps us to maintain the professionalism of our jobs and serve our students better.

There's a human rights component. It involves national security, civil rights, the future of our economy ? a whole international and geopolitical component.

There has to be an appeals process. We have to balance civil rights and security.

Human rights are indivisible. Freedom and security are not alternatives, they go hand-in-hand ... Much as the public may dislike it, suspected terrorists have rights.