October 6 - So it Begins - The Alberta Teacher Strike

[The Big Chill]

There is no actual pressure on the government to do anything here. Despite some public support for the teachers they know the people will still vote a conservative majority next go around.

[malcolmk14]

I think it’s going to take something drastic like disobeying a back to work order or recalling a UCP MLA to get this government to do anything.

[Mr.Coffee]

Definitely recalls of MLAs needs to start and as well people in Calgary in particular need to make it clear their vote is dependent on this issue, or heavily slanted on this issue or something to that effect.

[woob]

Doesn't recall process take a long time? Signature collection, etc. ?

[fotze2]

Recalls are about as successful as petitions and impeachments. Complete wastes of time.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by fotze2

Recalls are about as successful as petitions and impeachments. Complete wastes of time.

I don't know. If the teachers went door to door with those petitions in Calgary Bow I think they'd have a chance of getting the education minister recalled given the new rules. Which is symbolically huge, but also the UCP has a very small majority, so they would view that as a huge threat.

[fotze2]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

I don't know. If the teachers went door to door with those petitions in Calgary Bow I think they'd have a chance of getting the education minister recalled given the new rules. Which is symbolically huge, but also the UCP has a very small majority, so they would view that as a huge threat.

I just do not recall a time where it has ever been even close to successful. I could definitely be wrong though. I'm sure the timeframe it would require would be untenable as well.

[indes]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

I don't know. If the teachers went door to door with those petitions in Calgary Bow I think they'd have a chance of getting the education minister recalled given the new rules. Which is symbolically huge, but also the UCP has a very small majority, so they would view that as a huge threat.

Hmm what's the number needed? Could probably get it between door knocking and hitting child care centers from 4-5pm every day.

[malcolmk14]

Originally Posted by indes

Hmm what's the number needed? Could probably get it between door knocking and hitting child care centers from 4-5pm every day.

16,006 signatures needed in Calgary - Bow.

The population is around 41,000 eligible voters and 12,552 voted NDP in 2023.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by malcolmk14

- Anticipates that once legislature is back in session on the 27th they would start the process to mandate teachers back quickly if there isn't an agreed-upon settlement.

The response from the ATA (and really any Union involved in any layer of government) should be "go #### yourself, we're not coming back without an agreement", if they threaten to fine them the response should be "go #### yourself, we're not going to pay it and we're not coming back without an agreement... you can try and fire all of us if you want... good luck replacing us all".

Back to work legislation only works if you let it work. If you choose to defy it, it's meaningless because they can't bare to be without your labor, they can't replace you enmasse, and when an agreement is inevitably signed the government is going to sign away any previous means of enforcement (i.e. recinding all fines will be part of it).

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Parallex

The response from the ATA (and really any Union involved in any layer of government) should be "go #### yourself, we're not coming back without an agreement", if they threaten to fine them the response should be "go #### yourself, we're not going to pay it and we're not coming back without an agreement... you can try and fire all of us if you want... good luck replacing us all".

Back to work legislation only works if you let it work. If you choose to defy it, it's meaningless because they can't bare to be without your labor, they can't replace you enmasse, and when an agreement is inevitably signed the government is going to sign away any previous means of enforcement (i.e. recinding all fines will be part of it).

Please don't encourage any of our politicians to take their clothes off!

[surferguy]

Not what I meant when I said I wanted to see a Kent Hehr

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Slava

Please don't encourage any of our politicians to take their clothes off!

Hey... I don't kink shame you.

[Point Blank]

Just got notified by the ATA that the strike will likely continue to next week. The ATA had proposed a phased plan for classroom size caps on Tuesday, my guess is the provincial government is not having it. Nicolaides apparently thinks it’s too complicated.

Friendly reminder we are only one of two provinces in Canada without classroom size caps. I’m gonna be looking up the BC teaching certification process.

[Izzle]

We have a daughter under 12. Thanks goodness we're in a good financial position. These Dani dollars are not for us. What's an effective way to funnel this to teachers?

[The Big Chill]

This government doesn’t care, they will be happy to wait it out a month or more

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by fotze2

Recalls are about as successful as petitions and impeachments. Complete wastes of time.

This is true

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by Izzle

We have a daughter under 12. Thanks goodness we're in a good financial position. These Dani dollars are not for us. What's an effective way to funnel this to teachers?

I would talk to her teacher and get that person's input. Many elementary teachers do end up spending their own money on classroom supplies.

[malcolmk14]

Originally Posted by Izzle

We have a daughter under 12. Thanks goodness we're in a good financial position. These Dani dollars are not for us. What's an effective way to funnel this to teachers?

You can contact the local ATA office and say you want to donate it to teachers experiencing hardship, or you can put it in an envelope and just hand it to your child's teacher when she's back at school. Or buy something for the classroom.

[Point Blank]

“Maybe if we had a class that has moderate complexity, like four students with mild to moderate needs or English as an additional language, we should attach an educational assistant to that class.”

A quote from our very own Danielle Smith. Who’s clearly never been in a public classroom.

I want to be clear that every class I’ve ever taught has been a blast. But I’ve taught 75% EAL classrooms for years with no EA support. You go to almost any classrooms in the NE and it’ll be way more complex than what Smith has described with NO EA support. Heck, even a Science 14 class in the SW is over 66% IPP ranging from mild to severe learning needs, with no EA support.

I have a colleague who is teaching math 14 with 35 students. Those are high needs, high behavioural classes in large teenage bodies. I would love for her to sit in one of those classrooms.