EDMONTON – Thursday, the government of Alberta said more than half of Alberta’s 62 school boards have decided to support the tentative province-wide agreement between the Redford government and the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA).
In a news release, the government specified 33 boards have officially come out in favour of the four-year deal. It adds several other boards have indicated their support for the deal.
The agreement, which was announced in March, must also be ratified by the school boards’ respective ATA local representatives. Votes are scheduled over the next several weeks.
“I am heartened by the actions of these boards and their timely commitment to Alberta’s students and parents in supporting this agreement,” said Education Minister Jeff Johnson. “It’s a great sign that so many boards have signed on at this stage in the ratification process. It’s proof to me that this negotiated agreement is putting our education system on the right path forward.”
Johnson said his staff are working with boards that have not yet ratified the agreement to respond to their questions or concerns. The deadline for voting to be completed is May 13.
The agreement calls for wages to be frozen in the first three years. A two per cent increase would come in the fourth year along with a one-time lump-sum payment from the province in 2015-16.
The province says the deal also includes a commitment by government not to change teachers’ collective bargaining rights for the duration of the contract, and limits – where possible – a teacher’s instructional time to 907 hours per year.
The Edmonton Public School Board (EPSB) voted unanimously against the agreement March 19, and said it would encourage the Alberta School Boards Association (ASBA) not to support the deal.
“We don’t believe that the proposal that we’ve been asked to endorse should be recommended by the Alberta School Boards Association,” said EPSB chair Sarah Hoffman.
The EPSB feels the proposed framework is not good for students and erodes democratic decision making. Hoffman said the board also had budget concerns.
“The board felt that we weren’t in a position financially to commit to this proposal,” added Hoffman.
However, Edmonton Catholic School Trustees voted to endorse the deal.
“As a Board we support this tentative agreement and believe that labour peace is in the best interests of our students, staff and parents in the Edmonton Catholic School District,” said Board chair Becky Kallal.
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