October 6 - So it Begins - The Alberta Teacher Strike

[The Fisher Account]

Originally Posted by Looch City

What's with this government and continuously setting up "commissions"?

Just part of the grift to keep their UCP friends paid?

What's next, a MINISTRY OF EDUCATION!?

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by GGG

Isn’t there just straight legislate back to work and you work without a contract under the terms of the old contract?

Teachers have routinely worked without a contract many times in the past and this is exactly what will happen in this case. However, they are insanely pissed off by the way this "bargaining" has unfolded and many may not go back to work now even if ordered or may continue to organize wild cat strikes or rolling stoppages. It is just utterly deplorable that the Smith, Nicolaides, Horner refuse to even negotiate on things that every other province has. They are purely terrible humans who have no concern for classroom conditions or anything that may put in jeopardy their ability to fund other O&G or private industry pet projects for their cronies.

What is going to be the likeliest scenario is the majority begrudgingly return to work at the end of the month when legislated, but in a work to rule capacity. This means no extra curriculars such as coaching, field trips, interviews, clubs or marking exams etc outside of teachable hours.

I've said it before, now is the time parents. If you care at all about your kids education you need to take a stand or it's going to be too late. Smith and co don't care one bit about this and refusing to even negotiate while this continues for another 13 days should rightly anger everyone put out by this. If you're hoping on more mediation, that is just a complete joke that will go nowhere again.

[The Fisher Account]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

What is going to be the likeliest scenario is the majority begrudgingly return to work at the end of the month when legislated, but in a work to rule capacity. This means no extra curriculars such as coaching, field trips, interviews, clubs or marking exams etc outside of teachable hours.

This is actually the most UNLIKELIEST scenario, as it's basically illegal. Teachers cannot enact a work-to-rule after being legislated back to work, because back-to-work legislation legally forces them to end all forms of job action, including work-to-rule. Back-to-work orders end a strike and mandate that employees return to their jobs, and any refusal to comply can result in termination or other penalties

[Torture]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

Teachers have routinely worked without a contract many times in the past and this is exactly what will happen in this case. However, they are insanely pissed off by the way this "bargaining" has unfolded and many may not go back to work now even if ordered or may continue to organize wild cat strikes or rolling stoppages. It is just utterly deplorable that the Smith, Nicolaides, Horner refuse to even negotiate on things that every other province has. They are purely terrible humans who have no concern for classroom conditions or anything that may put in jeopardy their ability to fund other O&G or private industry pet projects for their cronies.

What is going to be the likeliest scenario is the majority begrudgingly return to work at the end of the month when legislated, but in a work to rule capacity. This means no extra curriculars such as coaching, field trips, interviews, clubs or marking exams etc outside of teachable hours.

I've said it before, now is the time parents. If you care at all about your kids education you need to take a stand or it's going to be too late. If you're hoping on more mediation, that is just a complete joke that will go nowhere again.

100%. Teachers are going to get legislated back to work because the Gov't refuses to negotiate. I expect we'll see work to rule.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by The Fisher Account

This is actually the most UNLIKELIEST scenario, as it's basically illegal. Teachers cannot enact a work-to-rule after being legislated back to work, because back-to-work legislation legally forces them to end all forms of job action, including work-to-rule. Back-to-work orders end a strike and mandate that employees return to their jobs, and any refusal to comply can result in termination or other penalties

They going to fire all teachers? lol

[malcolmk14]

- ATA submitted a proposal on Class size & complexity on Tuesday.
- Government asked teachers on Thursday to end the strike and go back to work and back to mediation to be resolved by November 20th, with the caveat that the mediator's recommendation can not have anything to do with class size or student-teacher ratios
- ATA responded today with, "no thank you, we will continue to strike but are available to negotiate"

[Fuzz]

And what happens to the good teachers when they get fed up with dealing with a government who won't treat them with respect but still want to teach? Ya, they'll go to the private system, as doctors have who found it easier to work on simple surgeries in private clinics and not be on call. The private system will then be seen as the only place to get a good education for your child, and less well off will have to make hard decisions on how to fund their child's education, while the well off buy the best available to them. Meanwhile, the public system will degrade because the govenrment has repeatedly shown zero inters in fixing it.


The govenrment is poisoning the public well because they have the power and motivation to do so. They will continue to do this as long as voters give them the permission and power to do so. None of this is new, or could not be known before. It shouldn't be a surprise.

[Torture]

Originally Posted by malcolmk14

- ATA submitted a proposal on Class size & complexity on Tuesday.
- Government asked teachers on Thursday to end the strike and go back to work and back to mediation to be resolved by November 20th, with the caveat that the mediator's recommendation can not have anything to do with class size or student-teacher ratios
- ATA responded today with, "no thank you, we will continue to strike but are available to negotiate"

Do they think that teachers are as stupid as their base?

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by The Fisher Account

This is actually the most UNLIKELIEST scenario, as it's basically illegal. Teachers cannot enact a work-to-rule after being legislated back to work, because back-to-work legislation legally forces them to end all forms of job action, including work-to-rule. Back-to-work orders end a strike and mandate that employees return to their jobs, and any refusal to comply can result in termination or other penalties

Come on man it just happened with the airlines and has certainly happened with unions before elsewhere. If the UCP attempts that, not only is it a huge hit to whatever modicum of PR they had left in "strong and free Alberta", it will also will be fought in the courts and dragged out in a grey area for days if not weeks further.

And yes, the union has mechanisms to enact new job action on a different basis, which would include working to rule after the fact. Also, what is the wicked witch really going to do? Fire any non-compliant teachers and attempt to rush plumbers and welders through some half baked teaching program program to pick up the slack? In case you missed it, there aren't exactly hordes of educators lined up clamoring to teach in this dumpster fire conservative paradise.

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by The Fisher Account

This is actually the most UNLIKELIEST scenario, as it's basically illegal. Teachers cannot enact a work-to-rule after being legislated back to work, because back-to-work legislation legally forces them to end all forms of job action, including work-to-rule. Back-to-work orders end a strike and mandate that employees return to their jobs, and any refusal to comply can result in termination or other penalties

I’m pretty sure the teachers can still work to rule if ordered back.

[surferguy]

Originally Posted by Torture

Do they think that teachers are as stupid as their base?

Yes they do. Problem is they picked a fight with the most educated group in the province

[Locke]

Originally Posted by surferguy

Yes they do. Problem is they picked a fight with the most educated group in the province

No. They didnt.

I hate to attribute actions to 'malice' when 'incompetence' will suffice just fine, but the Government picked this fight on purpose.

[The Fisher Account]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

Come on man it just happened with the airlines and has certainly happened with unions before elsewhere. If the UCP attempts that, not only is it a huge hit to whatever modicum of PR they had left in "strong and free Alberta", it will also will be fought in the courts and dragged out in a grey area for days if not weeks further.

And yes, the union has mechanisms to enact new job action on a different basis, which would include working to rule after the fact. Also, what is the wicked witch really going to do? Fire any non-compliant teachers and attempt to rush plumbers and welders through some half baked teaching program program to pick up the slack? In case you missed it, there aren't exactly hordes of educators lined up clamoring to teach in this dumpster fire conservative paradise.

The ATA just sent out an email yesterday to staff saying they won’t work to rule if legislated back.

I don’t know how dialed into things you are, but that is driving my response.

[Winnie]

Originally Posted by The Fisher Account

The ATA just sent out an email yesterday to staff saying they won’t work to rule if legislated back.

I don’t know how dialed into things you are, but that is driving my response.

Maybe I missed the communication where they clearly said they won't work to rule - apologies if I did. The Worth Knowing communication discusses how work to rule could be deemed illegal, but it also explains that "work-to-rule is a type of legal job action" and discusses the purpose of work-to-rule. To me there was some mixed/neutral messaging there that definitely didn't close the door to any type of action.

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by The Fisher Account

The ATA just sent out an email yesterday to staff saying they won’t work to rule if legislated back.

I don’t know how dialed into things you are, but that is driving my response.

Could be a sign that the parties are closer to a deal than it is being made out to appear publicly.

Could also just be the teachers trying to avoid alienating parents to maintain public support.

Or, it could be a round about way of saying they’ll be ignoring any back to work order so they won’t be working to rule. (Ok that one is probably unlikely but it would be interesting lol)

[IliketoPuck]

Perhaps a bit tongue in cheek, but shouldn't work to rule be the norm not the expectation?

Why do we expect teachers to do extra work that they aren't being compensated for?

[woob]

Originally Posted by malcolmk14

- ATA submitted a proposal on Class size & complexity on Tuesday.
- Government asked teachers on Thursday to end the strike and go back to work and back to mediation to be resolved by November 20th, with the caveat that the mediator's recommendation can not have anything to do with class size or student-teacher ratios
- ATA responded today with, "no thank you, we will continue to strike but are available to negotiate"

So essentially, not really any change and they want them to get back to work and trust that they'll TOTALLY work on something together for Nov. 20th deadline. Also while COMPLETELY ignoring 2 of the core reasons for the strike.

FVCK THIS GOVERNMENT.

[The Fisher Account]

Originally Posted by IliketoPuck

Perhaps a bit tongue in cheek, but shouldn't work to rule be the norm not the expectation?

Why do we expect teachers to do extra work that they aren't being compensated for?

Because unpaid overtime by teachers is the backbone of the education system.

Can you imagine how much we’d be paying teachers if we compensated them for all the hours they ACTUALLY work?

[Buff]

Originally Posted by The Fisher Account

Because unpaid overtime by teachers is the backbone of the education system.

Can you imagine how much we’d be paying teachers if we compensated them for all the hours they ACTUALLY work?

$2 billion more than now?

[marsplasticeraser]

Originally Posted by The Fisher Account

The ATA just sent out an email yesterday to staff saying they won’t work to rule if legislated back.

I don’t know how dialed into things you are, but that is driving my response.

I just read the existing agreement and I could see teachers adhering to that contract and only doing those duties.

Check out Section 8 - CONDITIONS OF PRACTICE. It makes it clear what teachers have to do. This isn't work to rule, this is doing what is in the contract and nothing more.

https://www.cbe.ab.ca/careers/Docume...nt-CBE-ATA.pdf