October 6 - So it Begins - The Alberta Teacher Strike

[ooogabooga]

Originally Posted by malcolmk14

Remember that because of the imposed agreement there needs to be 1000 new net teachers by the end of this school year (and the next, and the next).

I suspect due to most of the items in their forced agreement that are retroactive that they'll say later on "we've met our goal" by including any teacher that was already hired for the beginning of the school year, and not include any that have already left, or will leave.

[flamingreen]

Originally Posted by RandyHolt

If there are a fair number of teachers that end up resigning now rather than waiting, what ends up happening to the classes they teach? Would this end up going to the sub list to try to fill in for the year? Or would the classes have to be merged with other classes is a substitute can't be found?

Will there even be subs? Most on the sub list had second jobs to begin with (its barely minimum wage as it is) and I imagine they just won't come back.

[woob]

I expect they’ll be able to hire SOME teachers, but I foresee a lot of difficulty hiring 1000 teachers by school year end.

If I was a teacher looking for employment, AB would be near the bottom of my list.

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Just got an email that our school's fun lunch program is canceled for now.
It's a small thing I realize, but this is the start of this stuff not happening. Kinda depressing (not blaming the teachers at all). It's one of those small things my daughter really looks forward to.

Mine too. Real bummer for my Son. Don't blame the teachers at all of course. What a #### show.

[Major Major]

There are 10 000 unqualified and unlicensed full-time teachers in Quebec classrooms today.

There are 42 000 unqualified and unlicensed full-time teacher in Texas classrooms today.

It is no secret where we are headed.

[Point Blank]

At the ATA members information meeting, there’s really nothing new but here’s the notes:
- the ATA refused to bargain if the conversations around class size and complexity were not included, while the government refused to bargain if the conversations included it
- the government knew Bill 2 would be an easy constitutional challenge, which is a direct admission by the government that they were violating the constitution
- the terms of Bill 2 states that no staff or ATA employees are allowed to authorize a strike
- a $500 fine for individuals and $500,000 fine is imposed per day for any strike action
- all terms are frozen until 2028
- COVID shots are included
- their “Task Force” is not included in the agreement but it is in the Bill
- the ending of classroom size reporting made it difficult for the bargaining team to make any statements about classroom size. But they are now going to start collecting data again.
- every 20 years there was a task force on learning that has led to mixed responses. 1980, 2002, and now. The ATA wants to be involved in this task force this time.
- the ATA will be seeking an injunction. But an injunction is VERY difficult.
- the ATA will also explore other avenues to challenge this to limit abuse of the notwithstanding clause, but it will be a very long path (4-5 years) to the Supreme Court. There will be lots of groups nationally that would support this.
- council is directing teachers to abide by the legislation and return to work.
- even withdrawal of voluntary services tracked by assignable time can be constituted as a strike action and subject to fines. So for example, if a teacher committed to coaching a team, admin would have been tracking it as assignable time and they cannot withdraw from this. But other voluntary services not tracked by assignable time, such as teachers involving themselves informally in a club, can be withdrawn.
- the ATA has not been able to touch base with the Common Front yet, but they are getting a lot of messages of support nationally and from the US. They will touch base tonight. This Bill is VERY labour unfriendly so lots of attention in Canada and the US.
- the fines are very steep so teachers really can’t afford to defy this legislation. Didn’t quite catch how the math added up but it could lead up to $2000 per day for teachers and $25 million per day for the union. The way this fine was written is different from the one in Ontario, so the union did not want to subject teachers to this potential. They also think we appear to have public support right now and defying this order may change that.
- the ATA will continue to advocate for funding through Budget 2026
- teachers will probably not be recouping lost instructional hours, some non operational days may potentially be switched to operational days by school boards but this will be very challenging
- most important thing right now is to maintain education as a critical election issue for 2 years for elections in 2027
- there’s no details right now regarding the task force

[Fuzz]

That's devastating. We are stuck with these ####faces for two more years?

[powderjunkie]

I'm feeling quite disappointed that we don't have any clarity on the 'unprecedented action' from all of the other unions. This is a put up or shut up moment for all of those union leaders.

Teachers should show up to work tomorrow. Nobody else should (unless they are actually essential like nurses). My blue/green bins are already on the curb, but I really hope they do not get picked up tomorrow.

Maybe they are just waiting for Friday. Which would make some sense I guess. But tomorrow would be better.

[WinnipegFan]

Congratulations to the teachers for taking a stand. I keep reading about people looking to leave, if any of the teachers here are looking outside Alberta I am happy to offer assistance or advice on how to make the move internationally.

[CFO]

That's the issue on both sides - hard caps on classes. There was ways around this but both sides stood hard on this. As a citizen I'm upset at government. As a parent I'm upset at ATA.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by CFO

That's the issue on both sides - hard caps on classes. There was ways around this but both sides stood hard on this. As a citizen I'm upset at government. As a parent I'm upset at ATA.

You don't want smaller classes for your kid?

[CFO]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

You don't want smaller classes for your kid?

What I'm saying is the compromise is not hanging your head on firm caps but instead asking for more teachers to reduce class sizes. But to be firm on - class sizes has to be X is where both sides fell apart.

[CFO]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

You don't want smaller classes for your kid?

I bet if teachers asked for 1% extra a year more then the offer and 10% more per year on # teachers then offered - there was movement to be had.

[direwolf]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

I'm feeling quite disappointed that we don't have any clarity on the 'unprecedented action' from all of the other unions. This is a put up or shut up moment for all of those union leaders.

Teachers should show up to work tomorrow. Nobody else should (unless they are actually essential like nurses). My blue/green bins are already on the curb, but I really hope they do not get picked up tomorrow.

Maybe they are just waiting for Friday. Which would make some sense I guess. But tomorrow would be better.

I read something this morning saying that the unions are meeting today and then making an official statement tomorrow I believe. Don’t have the link handy at the moment, but it was on the CBC website.

[Locke]

So...do we get the Teachers to deliver mail and make the Posties teach classes?

[getbak]

Originally Posted by direwolf

I read something this morning saying that the unions are meeting today and then making an official statement tomorrow I believe. Don’t have the link handy at the moment, but it was on the CBC website.

Yes, they said last night they were going to let the ATA decide their course of action today and they'd be making an announcement tomorrow morning.

[#-3]

I feel like the only immediate reaction that would nearly equivalent to what the government has done here would be to submit 25,000-30,000 resignation letters simultaneously.

I doubt that will happen. So the only real options we have here is to try to recall / flip 4 of the UPC-MLAs or to campaign hard in the next election. Neither of those options seem soon enough, so crappy situation.

[5abi]

This is wild. I hope the coalition of unions comes up with a strong response. One union backs down today, many unions fall tomorrow

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by 5abi

This is wild. I hope the coalition of unions comes up with a strong response. One union backs down today, many unions fall tomorrow

What exactly do you want unions to do here that non-union workers can’t also do?

While it’s nice to see that some people are starting to realize the benefits unions can have in standing up against and deterring government overreach, expecting the province that has the strongest restrictions on unionizing, and as a result also the lowest workforce union density in the country to now suddenly be saved by unions alone without the full support of the public is a risky plan.

[5abi]

Originally Posted by iggy_oi

What exactly do you want unions to do here that non-union workers can’t also do?

While it’s nice to see that some people are starting to realize the benefits unions can have in standing up against and deterring government overreach, expecting the province that has the strongest restrictions on unionizing, and as a result also the lowest workforce union density in the country to now suddenly be saved by unions alone without the full support of the public is a risky plan.

Come
Up with a rotating general strike, they’d be fools to think they’re not next