October 6 - So it Begins - The Alberta Teacher Strike

[puffnstuff]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Sadly this is exactly what Smith wanted. ####ing ####.

https://theijf.org/alberta-teachers-...rters-lobbying

In her mandate#letter#to Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides, Smith called on the minister to “ensure Alberta's educational funding model promotes parental choice in education,” including for “public, separate, francophone, charter, independent (private) schools, and early childhood services operators and home education systems.”

Others, meanwhile, have criticized the government, saying it is attempting to privatize public education. One such critic, Calgary resident Jennifer Yeremiy, recently filed a#petition#to recall Nicolaides for failing to support public education.##

Yeremiy says Nicolaides has#committed#to increasing private and charter school funding to $561 million by 2027, up from $42 million in 2022. “Meanwhile, public education faces: overcrowded classrooms, inappropriate curricula, inadequate resources, and insufficient funding and staff,” the petition reads.#

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Icon

Well that's fun, when I go to accept the e-transfer for the $30/day/kid support from the government, I get a big error screen saying the transfer has been cancelled, contact the sender.

Whattya figure my odds are of actually getting hold of someone to get that resolved, lol.

Wait, they sent this money as an e-transfer? That just seems so weird.

[PsYcNeT]

Originally Posted by Icon

Well that's fun, when I go to accept the e-transfer for the $30/day/kid support from the government, I get a big error screen saying the transfer has been cancelled, contact the sender.

Whattya figure my odds are of actually getting hold of someone to get that resolved, lol.

I actually received mine but i have auto-deposit turned on.

Got my $480 bones in blood money which will more or less cover the extra amount the daycare charged us. "hooray"

Worth noting that I applied for it on the 28th (day before the strike breaking action) and the website said that applicants should "apply before the 24th to receive by the end of October". The strike breaking action date was pre-planned.

[Icon]

So the website says for assistance call 310-0000

When you call, it says thanks for calling and hangs up.

Neat.

[Icon]

Apparently the issue was since I didn't have auto-deposit, it asked for a reference code as the password to accept the transfer, and I presumed it was the one in the email. It's not, it's the one from when you did the application.

If you didn't write it down you can check it again by trying to re-apply.

But looks like my e-transfer was cancelled (because I used the wrong number and got locked out), and when I go to reapply it just says payment processing.

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by Slava

Wait, they sent this money as an e-transfer? That just seems so weird.

How else could they send? Unless you wanted cheques!

They don't have your banking information to do a direct deposit.

E-Transfer is quick, cheap and you only need the person's email or phone #

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Slava

Wait, they sent this money as an e-transfer? That just seems so weird.

Didn't they also send out support payments via e-transfer in the early days of COVID? It is an easy and efficient way to get money to people that need it.

[FacePaint]

We were lucky enough to have Grandma watch the kids so suggestions to donate the funds? Send directly to NDP?

[puckedoff]

I turned on Autodeposit specifically for the reason above.

To be fair the website did say that if you don't have autodeposit on, the confirm number that appeared when you submitted the application will be the password.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

How else could they send? Unless you wanted cheques!

They don't have your banking information to do a direct deposit.

E-Transfer is quick, cheap and you only need the person's email or phone #

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

Didn't they also send out support payments via e-transfer in the early days of COVID? It is an easy and efficient way to get money to people that need it.

I guess I don't get any of these things, but it just seemed weird to me that you would get an e-transfer from the government.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by FacePaint

We were lucky enough to have Grandma watch the kids so suggestions to donate the funds? Send directly to NDP?

We are giving it to our kid's teachers to help make the whole after losing their salary for a few weeks.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by FacePaint

We were lucky enough to have Grandma watch the kids so suggestions to donate the funds? Send directly to NDP?

Probably your best bet since it's taxable income, so you should still come out a few bucks ahead in the end. Or give it to the teachers

[Fuzz]

So how much more money did the province waste on this strike with parental pay-offs?


If they were always going to go heavy handed, they could have saved everyone time, stress and money by doing it 3 weeks ago. But whatever, it's just taxpayer dollars.

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

So how much more money did the province waste on this strike with parental pay-offs?


If they were always going to go heavy handed, they could have saved everyone time, stress and money by doing it 3 weeks ago. But whatever, it's just taxpayer dollars.

The teachers paid for it.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

So how much more money did the province waste on this strike with parental pay-offs?


If they were always going to go heavy handed, they could have saved everyone time, stress and money by doing it 3 weeks ago. But whatever, it's just taxpayer dollars.

But they had to ensure that the bill went to legislature while Marlaina was flying to Saudi.

[IliketoPuck]

https://www.elections.ab.ca/finance/contributions/

Scroll to the bottom. 75% tax credit for the first $200. That's where mine is going.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by iggy_oi

Have you ever taken a glance at the voting trends between the two provinces at both the provincial and federal levels of government? Notice any differences as it relates to electing parties that are Union-friendly or at least neutral vs those that are anti-Union?

I believe I’ve already mentioned the differences in Union density within the industries that are the economic drivers of both provinces. These things matter.



Maybe you should ask the AFL, I’m not affiliated with them. That being said even though I’m not overly impressed by how they handle things at times I’m willing to bet that they probably have a better understanding of what political strategies will work best with the resources they have than you do.



2 things:

1. Twice as evil can be a relevant factor
2. Strikes/Protests aren’t supposed to be joyous occasions

Provincially Ontario tried one term of NDP in 1990. Since then NDP peaked with 33.6% of the votes in 2018, and have not otherwise exceeded 24% in the other 8 elections since 1990. Blue is obviously stronger in AB than ON, but lately that means 52-54% here vs 40% in ON.

Federally, NDP got 4.9%/0 seats of the vote last time, 17.8%/5 (out of 121 seats) the time before, and 16.8%/6 seats in 2019

vs. Alberta 6.3% for 1 seat last time, 19.1% for 2 seats out of 34, 11.6%/1 seat in 2019


But we don't disagree too much on the rest. Appealing to their supposed expertise and access to information is fine, but might it also be reasonable to challenge the processes and thinking that have seen us remain in the weakest labour situation?

I don't think it's overstatement to say that press conference was the biggest opportunity the labour movement has ever had to make a loud statement in Alberta. I hope they prove me dead wrong, but I simply think they failed to seize that moment.

[RandyHolt]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

Probably your best bet since it's taxable income, so you should still come out a few bucks ahead in the end. Or give it to the teachers

On the website it says that it's considered non-taxable income so if you donate $200 you'll come out $150 ahead.

Maybe a teacher or two can chime in, if we give some of this money to our kids teachers, is it bad or frowned upon to just give cash in a card? Should we get usable gift cards instead?

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

I don't think it's overstatement to say that press conference was the biggest opportunity the labour movement has ever had to make a loud statement in Alberta. I hope they prove me dead wrong, but I simply think they failed to seize that moment.

It is an overstatement.

Moving to recall all 44 MLAs who signed the Notwithstanding Clause is a much bigger opportunity for the labour movement to make a statement.

Actions > Words into a microphone.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by Wolven

It is an overstatement.

Moving to recall all 44 MLAs who signed the Notwithstanding Clause is a much bigger opportunity for the labour movement to make a statement.

Actions > Words into a microphone.

Ugh. I just realized that Smith is not on this list because she did not sign the bill with the Notwithstanding Clause in it.

What a f'ing coward.