October 6 - So it Begins - The Alberta Teacher Strike

[GullFoss]

This is not the mediated binding solution I had in mind. This seems a bit heavy handed

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by CFO

Comments like this - whether coming from the left or right piss off the center.

Sounds like you're right.

[malcolmk14]

Originally Posted by BagoPucks

Maybe I am in the minority, but I feel like the leadership in the ATA has failed it's members- the teachers. Everybody is losing with this strike. I would be beyond angry as it has turned into a joke. Leadership is about finding solutions without hurting it's followers. Essentially, by arriving at a strike, they have said they have failed in leadership and communication. Tell me what's wrong with this perspective.

Are you a teacher?

[Looch City]

Originally Posted by BagoPucks

Maybe I am in the minority, but I feel like the leadership in the ATA has failed it's members- the teachers. Everybody is losing with this strike. I would be beyond angry as it has turned into a joke. Leadership is about finding solutions without hurting it's followers. Essentially, by arriving at a strike, they have said they have failed in leadership and communication. Tell me what's wrong with this perspective.

That would be fine but one side is not negotiating AT ALL.

They are not willing to make any changes whatsoever to their proposal that was rejected twice...and 90/10 margin the second time around.

This government does not want to listen. They do not want to negotiate.

[GullFoss]

I don't think either side negotiated in particularly good faith. But that opinion leads you to the view that binding mediation is the correct course of action.

This is a nuclear option which really wasn't necessary. It basically implies the province didn't want to give teachers a fair deal, either through a negotiated solution or a mediated one.

[Looch City]

Originally Posted by GullFoss

This is a nuclear option which really wasn't necessary. It basically implies the province didn't want to give teachers a fair deal, either through a negotiated solution or a mediated one.

We've been trying to tell you this since the summer haha. Good to see you've finally come around

[The Big Chill]

The ATA put forward an offer that addressed all the issues and had timelines to implement them. What about that would suggest they weren’t bargaining in good faith?

[malcolmk14]

Originally Posted by GullFoss

This is a nuclear option which really wasn't necessary. It basically implies the province didn't want to give teachers a fair deal, either through a negotiated solution or a mediated one.

The government knows that the outcome of binding arbitration would not be favourable to them.

[getbak]

When asked why they're rushing this through today, Horton said it was because it was the longest strike action "in education history".

That is absolutely not true. In 1980, the CBE teachers went on strike with about a month left in the school year and were eventually ordered back to work a month into the next school year. Even if you exclude the entire summer, that strike lasted for 41 teaching days. This one isn't even half of that.

Someone needs some edumacation.

[Torture]

Originally Posted by GullFoss

This is a nuclear option which really wasn't necessary. It basically implies the province didn't want to give teachers a fair deal, either through a negotiated solution or a mediated one.

Yup. And going back to the exact deal teachers voted to strike over (at 90% against) is a slap in the face.

[Hockeyguy15]

Originally Posted by BagoPucks

Maybe I am in the minority, but I feel like the leadership in the ATA has failed it's members- the teachers. Everybody is losing with this strike. I would be beyond angry as it has turned into a joke. Leadership is about finding solutions without hurting it's followers. Essentially, by arriving at a strike, they have said they have failed in leadership and communication. Tell me what's wrong with this perspective.

Ummm Alberta "leadership" just took their ball and went home, said "f you teachers, you get no say in your contract" and you want to put that on the ATA?

In what world can you lay ANY of this at their feet? Wow.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by getbak

Someone needs some edumacation.

If you set the chilling aspect of this situation aside, it’s pretty funny that the only people supporting the UCP and finger pointing at the ATA and teachers come off like the least educated people you’ve ever heard.

[Point Blank]

UCP’s first offer- 12% wage increase over 4 years. 3000 teachers.

UCP’s second offer- 12% wage increase over 4 years. 3000 teachers. A free COVID shot.

UCP’s final offer using the notwithstanding clause- 12% wage increase over 4 years. 3000 teachers. A free COVID shot (?)

Someone is not bargaining in good faith and it’s not the union.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by GullFoss

I don't think either side negotiated in particularly good faith. But that opinion leads you to the view that binding mediation is the correct course of action.

This is a nuclear option which really wasn't necessary. It basically implies the province didn't want to give teachers a fair deal, either through a negotiated solution or a mediated one.

Based on all of the facts, I cannot fathom how you could say that the ATA did anything other than try to negotiate in good faith on their key issues. The UCP denied the ability to negotiate over class sizes or complexity.

This is 100% a UCP made problem and they have been on this course the entire time. The conclusion is only a surprise to someone who has serious blinders on to the reality of this wildrose government.

Next you are going to say that it is breaking news that the UCP is supporting the separatists....

[Looch City]

Originally Posted by Point Blank

UCP’s first offer- 12% wage increase over 4 years. 3000 teachers.

UCP’s second offer- 12% wage increase over 4 years. 3000 teachers. A free COVID shot.

UCP’s final offer using the notwithstanding clause- 12% wage increase over 4 years. 3000 teachers. A free COVID shot (?)

Someone is not bargaining in good faith and it’s not the union.

You forgot, this last offer comes with a giant F UCK YOU AND YOUR RIGHTS.

[GullFoss]

I'm a little curious as to if this a moat and bailey strategy to try and get the ATA to agree to binding arbitration. If so, it would be one of the dumbest uses of the strategy I may have ever seen.

[BagoPucks]

Ok I see the timing of my post might not be great given what the other side just did. I guess I should have posted that 3 weeks ago. Oh well, what is negotiating in good faith? Basically give the teachers what they need to do their jobs or they will shut the whole system down? Sounds more and more like both sides don't want a deal. We all know what the UCP is but I expected more from the educated folks.

[Icon]

Originally Posted by Looch City

You forgot, this last offer comes with a giant F UCK YOU AND YOUR RIGHTS.

Yeah it also includes the lovely detail that they can't renegotiate this "deal" or strike etc for 4 years.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by GullFoss

I'm a little curious as to if this a moat and bailey strategy to try and get the ATA to agree to binding arbitration. If so, it would be one of the dumbest uses of the strategy I may have ever seen.

Are you so out of touch that you cannot see Authoritarianism when it hits you in the face? This is straight up American fascism being displayed by the Alberta government.

They are handcuffing the teachers to their desks and force them to work in unreasonable conditions and taking away their right to strike.

My guess is that they think this was the winning move and that now the unions will bow down to their power. My worry is that they want this to escalate into the general strike so they can do something worse.

We need to recall all of them... but I would settle with enough to flip the government.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by BagoPucks

Ok I see the timing of my post might not be great given what the other side just did. I guess I should have posted that 3 weeks ago. Oh well, what is negotiating in good faith? Basically give the teachers what they need to do their jobs or they will shut the whole system down? Sounds more and more like both sides don't want a deal. We all know what the UCP is but I expected more from the educated folks.

It sounds like you just crawled out from under a rock and had no idea any of this situation had been going on since September 2024.

The teachers said they need a raise (they have only gotten a 5% raise in the last 10 years while the cost of living has gone up 33%). They need more teachers and class rooms in order to bring down class sizes. They need to reduce class complexity as unsupported special needs students should not be consuming all of the resources in a regular class.

The UCP replied and said "no, we won't let you negotiate on class size or complexity".

The problem is very much one-sided, unless you have no clue what is going on.