Teacher's Salary Increase Possible

[WinnipegFan]

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/ra...857/story.html

As a teacher this frustrates me. I personally do not feel that we need, nor deserve at this point, an increase in salary. In parallel neither do any of our executives downtown in the CBE (this happens regularly)! We are already brushing up against 100k a year (at the most senior levels) and in my humble opinion that is more than a fair compensation. Combined with our benefits package and retirement fund we are very lucky. To argue that we have "paid our due" under our previous contract is nonsense. We make enough money, it is time to reconnect with the public we serve and focus on benefits for the students.

All I want out of this contract negotiation is smaller class sizes. This will improve the quality of the education each student receives as well as employ a number of new teachers who are struggling to find employment. By creating more "teaching blocks" new teachers will be mentored into a system that has a terrible history of reactive planning, rather than proactive planning. We have a massive shift of administrative level positions and we need new teachers to fill those voids. However, they will also need quality mentors to aid them in the start of their career.

I wish the ATA would focus on this aspect of our contract, I don't want more money. I want my students to have more individual support, and young teachers to have employment. Shake your head ATA I don't care what our previous contracts embodied, if you pursue salary in this climate you will ostracize our public supporters. Embarrassing, I apologize.

[undercoverbrother]

and Sliver in 3....2.....1.....

[NuclearFart]

Hopefully it's just all be pre-negotiation posturing to fight potential decreases elsewhere.

When everybody else is currently taking a pay cut or losing their jobs, it's pretty hard to justify an increase regardless of history. Teachers are going to get decimated on the PR front if they legitimately pursue this.

[Russic]

I'll just get in here and comment before Sliver...

Of the disgruntled teachers I know, not a one cites their salary as being inadequate. As WinnipegFan mentions, the most common complaint I've heard is about the barriers stopping them from actually being an effective teacher. Nobody says "for $5,000 more I'd be fine with it". The problems I see with most of them is a feeling of helplessness, and money doesn't help with that.

[CaptainCrunch]

Right now the government can't afford to be negotiating wage increases, if they do, it shows who they really want to look after, which is their voting base.

At this point negotiate a freeze or a reduction that covers the $170 million in reducing class sizes and focus on that.

Look for the opposition parties to latch onto this comment and watch the negotiations closely.

There are something like 130 contracts up this year in the public sectors, raises or increases in pension plans need to be off the table.

[MelBridgeman]

this 1 percent vs the 99 percent is misguided

it should be Public Sector vs the Private Sector

Label, divide and conquer Liberals!

[peter12]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Right now the government can't afford to be negotiating wage increases, if they do, it shows who they really want to look after, which is their voting base.

At this point negotiate a freeze or a reduction that covers the $170 million in reducing class sizes and focus on that.

Look for the opposition parties to latch onto this comment and watch the negotiations closely.

There are something like 130 contracts up this year in the public sectors, raises or increases in pension plans need to be off the table.

CBA at UCalgary was renegotiated last June, and workers I think saw roughly 1-2% increases per year for the next few years. That isn't outrageous.

[burn_this_city]

The public sector unions need to tread carefully during this economic climate. The public will turn on these folks if their demands are seen as out of touch with the current economy. Private sector incomes are declining so a freeze on public sector salaries would seem sensible.

[Lubicon]

Maybe it's just my imagination but there sure seems to be a large increase in TV commercials by the ATA and to some extent the AUPE recently. It seems to have coincided with the provincial election but of course the general economy crapped the bed at the same time so that may just be a coincidence. But to me it sure seems like they are trying to build public support since they know they may be in for a scrap when it comes time for contract negotiations.

[CliffFletcher]

It's worthwhile for Alberta teachers to consider why it is they earn $20k a year more than their counterparts in New Brunswick. Hint: it isn't the mountains.

[Resolute 14]

They likely wont be in much of a scrap with the government, as I doubt Notley has the willingness - even if we could assume she had the backbone - to stand up to a union. But no amount of paid PR in the world is going to prevent the public from being angry at union greed if they push for raises in this climate.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by MelBridgeman

this 1 percent vs the 99 percent is misguided

it should be Public Sector vs the Private Sector

Label, divide and conquer Liberals!

Is this gibberish?

[Weitz]

Well if they make more money they can supply their classrooms with the resources they need?

[darklord700]

I just hope this won't result in any strike. People like me can ill afford to take time off to stay with the kids if strike happens in this economy.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by peter12

CBA at UCalgary was renegotiated last June, and workers I think saw roughly 1-2% increases per year for the next few years. That isn't outrageous.

It certainly is when they're already among the highest paid in the Country.

[IliketoPuck]

Originally Posted by Weitz

Well if they make more money they can supply their classrooms with the resources they need?

With after tax dollars no less.

My rebate cheque from the government for the thousands of dollars worth of teaching and classroom supplies I've purchased over the last five years must be lost in the mail somewhere.

I'll echo the above statement that teacher's most certainly do not want a pay increase. They want an effective system that leads to the best education for students. That means more support in classrooms, less bureaucracy at the administrative level, and the actual ability to have discipline in a classroom (Teacher's have absolutely zero power. The inmates run the asylum. The pendulum has shifted so far to the children's favor that the situation is asinine).

[MelBridgeman]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Is this gibberish?

Sorry, I have trained my dog to post on CP

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by peter12

CBA at UCalgary was renegotiated last June, and workers I think saw roughly 1-2% increases per year for the next few years. That isn't outrageous.

Out of curiousity how many workers were effected by the increase.

At the end of the day to me, with the budget spiralling out of control, and the day to day operations of government running a deficit any increase right now is outrageous.

It might be wrong, but when I searched for public sector employees and salary stats, in 2011 Alberta was spending more then 20 billion on salaries for over 345,000 workers.

Like I said I could be mis-interpreting the stats. But that means that the average salary is $58,000. So a 2% increase lets say across the board is $1160 x 345000 is over $400 million a year in increases, so if its 2% per year, thats a sizable increase since 2011 of about what 2 billion.

Like I said the PC's are firmly in the blame circle, but in these times, where the budget is in deficit its a huge issue, especially the day to day operating budget.

Right now even 1 to 2% increases aren't affordable.

[puckedoff]

Originally Posted by darklord700

I justs hope this won't result in any strike. People like me can ill afford to take time off to stay with the kids if strike happens in this economy.

Well the private sector is laid off anyways so theres lots of people home to take care of the kids. What is a couple more hundred million on the provincial debt anyways? Besides, if we pay the teachers a bit more, they will have enough capital to drill wells and will end up getting the oil patch back to work that way.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by IliketoPuck

With after tax dollars no less.

My rebate cheque from the government for the thousands of dollars worth of teaching and classroom supplies I've purchased over the last five years must be lost in the mail somewhere.

I'll echo the above statement that teacher's most certainly do not want a pay increase. They want an effective system that leads to the best education for students. That means more support in classrooms, less bureaucracy at the administrative level, and the actual ability to have discipline in a classroom (Teacher's have absolutely zero power. The inmates run the asylum. The pendulum has shifted so far to the children's favor that the situation is asinine).

Yah thats ridiculous (my post was tongue in cheek I hope it was noticeable haha)