Alberta’s 40,000 plus teachers are in a 14-day cooling off period as members voted to reject the mediator’s offer in contract negotiations with the government. Once the vote is taken, teachers will have 120 days to take further job action.
They join some 23,000 Government of Alberta workers who are ending their cooling off as of Wednesday, May 7 and will vote on strike action from Thursday, May 8.
The teachers are pointing to their frustrations over classroom sizes, students’ supports, and wages that are not keeping up with inflation.
“Alberta teachers urgently need the government to commit to a concrete plan that adequately addresses increasing classroom complexity and fair wages that reflect current and past inflation. Classroom complexity refers to class size, as well as the wide range of learning needs present in today’s classrooms,” says Alberta Teachers’ Association President Jason Schilling.
The government is offering a 12 per cent wage increase over four years, benefit improvements, a new pay grid, and up to a 20 per cent pay increase for substitute teachers, according to the finance minister.
Also, teachers will have input on some $405 million in classroom improvements. This comes with a $125 million investment in the next school year.
Meanwhile, Alberta sheriffs, firefighters, social workers, and court staff are among the over 23,000 Government of Alberta workers represented by AUPE that will eb voting from May 8 on whether to take strike action.
The government is offering 11.5 per cent over four years and AUPE is asking for 21 per cent for its members along with improvements to conditions of employment.
In the Midwest region including, Lloydminster, Wainwright and Vermilion, the staff provide services like child and youth care workers, corrections and law enforcement, natural resources and the judiciary.
