Alberta’s public education teachers have rejected the memorandum of agreement by 89.5 per cent. Teachers will go on strike on October 6. The overwhelming rejection of the tentative agreement highlights the gap between teachers’ lived realities in the classroom and the government’s perception of public education in Alberta.
“The proposed agreement failed to meet the needs of teachers, failed to improve student classroom conditions in a concrete and meaningful way, and failed to show teachers the respect they deserve.”
— ATA president Jason Schilling
The government’s job is to provide the necessities to Alberta’s public education system. Instead of simply doing its job, the government has forced teachers to bargain for basic classroom needs, which is both inappropriate and embarrassing.
“When oversized classes and growing student complexities combine to create learning environments that no longer meet students’ needs and push teachers far past their limits, the government must be held accountable.”
— ATA president Jason Schilling
By rejecting this agreement, teachers have signaled that classroom complexities have not been adequately addressed and an increase of 12 per cent is insufficient. Over the last decade, teachers have received a total salary increase of less than six per cent, while being promised that they would be fairly compensated in their next collective agreement.
Teachers are now taking action and standing united for an agreement that immediately addresses deteriorating conditions in classrooms across Alberta and gives them the pay increase they deserve.
More than 43,000 teachers cast ballots online between September 27 and 29.
The Alberta Teachers’ Association, as the professional organization of teachers, promotes and advances public education, supports teachers’ professional practice and serves as the advocate for its 51,000 members.