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Antithesis · 03-24-2015, 04:28 PM

I'm speaking of the ATA. I understand this is a sensitive topic and I'm not trying to be callous or insensitive to people losing their jobs or having a cut in pay right now. You bring up the idea of public sector employees not historically taking pay cuts to the order of 10-15%. I don't recall that ever happening, if I remember right, it was 5% with Klein. I think this is part of the trade off you implicitly agree to when working in the public sector: your salary increases won't match your peers in the private sector during good times, but you are also insulated from job loss/pay decrease when times are tight. Plus, there is a bit of history behind why public employees might dig their heels in on this issue due to their experiences with Klein.

There are a couple of further points I would like to raise:

1. We have a bargained agreement through the end of next school year. I would like to see that agreement honored. I think it is a dangerous precedent for us to agree to re-open a bargaining agreement after it's been ratified due to extraordinary circumstances. I think it is a reasonable assumption that the government wouldn't re-open the agreement if they found themselves awash in revenue, so why exactly should we right now?
2. In a personal sense - and I'd like to re-iterate that in no way do I represent any one else's views other than my own, I might be more willing to listen to ideas about a 5% pay cut if we were to do away with the ridiculous flat tax scheme we have in Alberta right now. I don't understand why the revenue problem should be solved solely on the back of people like me, earning a decent middle-class wage, when those earning in the highest tax brackets should get away without putting in their share. I'm sure we disagree on that matter, but I think if the message is "We're all in this together - let's have the highest earners pay 2% more in taxes each year, while teachers earn 5% less", the concept is easier to stomach.

Anyway, I'm sure things will be interesting in here once the budget is released. I'm no expert but the last time the government tried to change royalty structures it didn't go too well, but I'm not well-versed in reasons why.

03-24-2015, 04:28 PM	#212
Antithesis Disenfranchised Join Date: May 2005 Exp:	I'm speaking of the ATA. I understand this is a sensitive topic and I'm not trying to be callous or insensitive to people losing their jobs or having a cut in pay right now. You bring up the idea of public sector employees not historically taking pay cuts to the order of 10-15%. I don't recall that ever happening, if I remember right, it was 5% with Klein. I think this is part of the trade off you implicitly agree to when working in the public sector: your salary increases won't match your peers in the private sector during good times, but you are also insulated from job loss/pay decrease when times are tight. Plus, there is a bit of history behind why public employees might dig their heels in on this issue due to their experiences with Klein. There are a couple of further points I would like to raise: 1. We have a bargained agreement through the end of next school year. I would like to see that agreement honored. I think it is a dangerous precedent for us to agree to re-open a bargaining agreement after it's been ratified due to extraordinary circumstances. I think it is a reasonable assumption that the government wouldn't re-open the agreement if they found themselves awash in revenue, so why exactly should we right now? 2. In a personal sense - and I'd like to re-iterate that in no way do I represent any one else's views other than my own, I might be more willing to listen to ideas about a 5% pay cut if we were to do away with the ridiculous flat tax scheme we have in Alberta right now. I don't understand why the revenue problem should be solved solely on the back of people like me, earning a decent middle-class wage, when those earning in the highest tax brackets should get away without putting in their share. I'm sure we disagree on that matter, but I think if the message is "We're all in this together - let's have the highest earners pay 2% more in taxes each year, while teachers earn 5% less", the concept is easier to stomach. Anyway, I'm sure things will be interesting in here once the budget is released. I'm no expert but the last time the government tried to change royalty structures it didn't go too well, but I'm not well-versed in reasons why.