Teachers reach agreement in principal with Government of Alberta.

[kootenayguy9]

Sounds like a good deal for us teachers. Here is hoping we ratify it soon.

http://www.teachers.ab.ca/Media+Room...+agreement.htm

[Sample00]

well my wife just did a hoooray!
thats good news!

[Antithesis]

A pleasant surprise in the newspaper this morning. It will be interesting to see if all 62 locals can be under contract by the deadline presented by the government.

[chummer]

Teachers deserve this raise and more.

[Antithesis]

Originally Posted by chummer

Teachers deserve this raise and more.

While I echo your sentiments, I have to admit that local media is not portraying this nearly as accurately as they could.

Teachers' wages are negotiated between their local union representatives and the school board. This is an agreement between the provincial government and the provincial representatives of the ATA.

It addresses an unfunded pension liability that accrued prior to 1992; it totals about 6 billion dollars. My gross annual salary will not increase (IE not a raise) but my take-home pay will increase (fewer deductions). Of course, it is welcome.

Hope that clears it up so we don't get into "the salary talk" about teachers. Again - not a raise - just lowering deductions.

[Sample00]

Originally Posted by Antithesis

While I echo your sentiments, I have to admit that local media is not portraying this nearly as accurately as they could.

Teachers' wages are negotiated between their local union representatives and the school board. This is an agreement between the provincial government and the provincial representatives of the ATA.

It addresses an unfunded pension liability that accrued prior to 1992; it totals about 6 billion dollars. My gross annual salary will not increase (IE not a raise) but my take-home pay will increase (fewer deductions). Of course, it is welcome.

Hope that clears it up so we don't get into "the salary talk" about teachers. Again - not a raise - just lowering deductions.

well put!
its not a raise, but this agreement goes a long way into clearing up this unfunded liability. the decrease in deductions will increase the take home.
almost as good as a raise.

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by Sample00

well put!
its not a raise, but this agreement goes a long way into clearing up this unfunded liability. the decrease in deductions will increase the take home.
almost as good as a raise.

Good to hear. Im in the Edu program up at the U of A right now and will be graduating next year. I was actually quite surprised to see how much teachers make, compared to what I've heard over the years, but was then quickly disheartened to see how many deductions come off their cheque.

[nieuwy-89]

Too much money. Why should the general public have to cover up for the mismanagement of a private pension fund? If this was any other labour pool, pension deductions would be increased to make up the shortfall.

I guess it was required in order to keep teachers on the job. But it leaves a bad taste in my mouth as a taxpayer.

[TurnedTheCorner]

Isn't the government the manager of the pension fund?

[Sample00]

Originally Posted by TurnedTheCorner

Isn't the government the manager of the pension fund?

its a board called the Alberta Teachers Retirement Fund Board.

here is the link

its a PDF file
http://www.atrf.com/downloads/docume...r.aspx?id=1004

[BlackEleven]

Teachers reach agreement in principal with Government of Alberta

I'm not sure if the mis-spelling was intentional, but, either way, nice pun!

[Dirty Mr. Clean]

Wow my wife will be happy.

[redforever]

Originally Posted by nieuwy-89

Too much money. Why should the general public have to cover up for the mismanagement of a private pension fund? If this was any other labour pool, pension deductions would be increased to make up the shortfall.

I guess it was required in order to keep teachers on the job. But it leaves a bad taste in my mouth as a taxpayer.

Well that depends on who mismanaged the pension fund. Apparently the province never put in their share of contributions for some 20 years. That can not be blamed on the teachers. The province is you and I folks, so if the province reneged on its responsibilities, then you and I pay for that oversight or mismanagement.