Alberta teachers have voted overwhelmingly to reject a tentative agreement with the province, setting up a provincewide strike for Monday, Oct. 6.
The Alberta Teachers’ Association says 89.5 per cent of members who cast ballots opposed the deal. More than 43,000 teachers took part in the vote between Sept. 27 and 29.
ATA president Jason Schilling said the proposed four-year agreement did not address conditions in classrooms, or adequately compensate teachers.
“The proposed agreement failed to meet the needs of teachers, failed to improve student classroom conditions in a concrete and meaningful way, & failed to show teachers the respect they deserve,” Schilling said in a statement.
The tentative deal called for a 12 per cent wage increase over four years. Schilling noted teachers have seen less than a six per cent increase in the past decade, & said educators were promised fair compensation in this round of bargaining.
Treasury Board president & Finance Minister Nate Horner said he was disappointed by the result, noting this was the second rejection by teachers.
“The ATA’s rejected deal would have provided tremendous investments in classroom supports with the hiring of 3,000 new teachers, & over 1,500 new educational assistants,” Horner said in a statement.
The province has since announced a new payment program for parents of students aged 12 & under in public, separate & francophone schools.
Eligible parents will receive $30 per day, or $150 per week, per student for the duration of the strike. The first payments are set for Oct. 31.
Parents are encouraged to set up a verified Alberta.ca account in the meantime.
The government says the funding is meant to offset costs such as childcare or tutoring while students are out of school.
Author: Landin Chambers
Landin Chambers is a news reporter for Hometown Media Stettler. He has a background in broadcast news, with previous roles in Prince George, Red Deer and Calgary. You may also see him as a cameraman for the Stettler Wildcats and Stettler Imperials. Have a story idea? Email: lchambers@htproductionsmedia.ca
