The Alberta Teachers’ Association

Making a Difference

Work of Teacher Welfare improves the entire education system

Those of you with photographic memories will recall that, about a year ago, we published an issue of the ATA Magazine that was focused on the important work of the Member Services program area of the Alberta Teachers’ Association.

At the time, in this very space, I stated tongue-in-cheek that we decision makers here at the magazine had decided on that theme because we couldn’t think of a better idea. Man, was that humorous. Anyway, this time around we thought, “That issue we did last year actually turned out really well; we should do it again.” So that’s what we did, except this time the focus is Teacher Welfare, or TW.

In all seriousness, this issue’s focus on TW is apt, given that the Association and its bargaining units will be entering negotiations in the upcoming year and TW is the area that handles the Association’s bargaining functions.

While engaging in bargaining may be the most visible aspect of TW’s work, there is much more going on behind the scenes every day. TW staff provide ongoing support to ensure that collective agreements are being upheld and to ensure that all ATA bargaining units are equipped to bargain on behalf of their members. And, like their colleagues in Member Services, these staff are on duty every business day, and often more, ready and equipped to handle member calls about any aspect of their collective agreements, as well as questions about pension, employment insurance, health and safety and benefits.

As the front-line link between teacher members and TW services, these executive staff officers are best equipped to relate the various aspects of the area’s work. Thus, these staffers comprise the bulk of this issue’s contributors.

In the following pages, you can read about the history and rationale behind the Association’s dual role as both a professional organization and a union, the history behind Association bargaining and strikes, and the day-to-day issues that TW staff members handle. You’ll also find a review of three landmark arbitration decisions, a thorough explanation of the bargaining process, a collection of busted teacher pension myths and the story behind the Alberta School Employee Benefit Plan.

And finally, former executive secretary Charles Hyman explains the link between TW and education finance.

Altogether, this collection of material clearly shows that TW is about much more than the aspects that lead to headlines. It’s a program area whose work leads to better conditions of professional practice for teachers and better learning conditions for students, and as such, it’s an integral part of Alberta’s education system.