Uncertainty for Alberta teachers
Posted Feb 26, 2013 4:18 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
There is still no agreement between teachers and the province to settle teacher collective agreements for four years.
Last Wednesday, Education Minister Jeff Johnson presented the Tripartite Framework Agreement (TFA) to the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) and the Alberta School Boards Association (ASBA).
Tuesday, the ATA said no thanks to the proposal, calling it unacceptable.
“There are no provisions for placing reasonable limits on the amount of time that teachers can be assigned to work by their employer boards, and what provisions there are for limiting the amount of time teachers are in the classroom are full of loopholes. In financial terms, it is actually worse for teachers than what he proposed in December. Finally, there still remains the need to guarantee stability for teachers just as it guarantees stability for school boards and the province,” said ATA President Carol Henderson.
The minister is disappointed.
“Our proposal would have meant labour stability and cost certainty during these tough economic times while ensuring we continue to move forward with Inspiring Education initiatives that will improve our already world-leading education system.”
Jeff Johnson continues, “Over the past several months, it has become clear that workload is the biggest issue for our teachers,” the Minister said. “We have taken those concerns seriously. However, we need to understand more about what contributes to those concerns and develop a co-ordinated plan to address them. I’m saddened the ATA leadership didn’t share their members’ concerns.”
The Calgary Catholic supports the proposal.
“Although some aspects of the proposal may present challenges for some of the parties involved, we are optimistic that we can make this work,” said Board Chair Mary Martin. “We are confident we can do so while continuing to offer outstanding services to the Calgary Catholic school community.”
The minister says it is up to the individual school boards now.
