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Auld Lang Syne
We tend to mark milestones by reflecting on the past and imagining the future. At the end of each calendar year, best-in-shows and top-10 lists help us reflect as we sing “Auld Lang Syne,” toast the year gone by and resolve to make the year ahead better.
Teachers, of course, do the same every June, reflecting on the past school year and planning the one ahead. And so, with that in mind, I’ll dedicate this editorial to reflecting on the past year’s events that affected the teaching profession in Alberta and I’ll look to the year ahead.
It was a remarkable year for teachers and their profession. We started the school year in Alberta with 62 expired collective agreements and a fresh attempt to resolve major issues facing teachers through another round of tripartite discussions: version number three. Local bargaining continued on some issues, but early signs suggested problem areas could arise.
At the federal level, a direct attack on unions emerged from Ottawa when private member’s bill C-377 received support from the majority Conservative caucus. Meanwhile, back in Alberta, the government finally passed the Education Act after two aborted attempts.
Local bargaining moved back to the front burner in December when the ATA withdrew from tripartite talks and forwarded an offer for settlement to Premier Alison Redford. The government’s reaction was not favourable. Education Minister Jeff Johnson inserted himself into local bargaining, which ensured that the process would break down. Talk of merit pay and threats of introducing draconian legislation deeply impacted relations between the government and teachers.
The provincial budget announced in March halted local bargaining altogether when grants for school boards were reduced. Not only did the government’s promised 2 per cent education funding increase not materialize, but $14.5 million was removed from school boards’ allocations. Some programs such as the Alberta Initiative for School Improvement were cut completely.
On March 15, an offer for settlement from the premier was announced, which received Association approval pending ratification by teachers. The ratification process started in earnest as teachers considered the implications of the offer. Unfortunately, unanimous approval was not achieved and the government legislated a settlement. The process was messy, as was the resolution, which left many teachers feeling uneasy.
Since then, the government has announced new schools and changes to provincial achievement tests, hired a new deputy minister of education and issued new goals for basic education. At present, school boards are releasing their budgets and warning of staffing and program cuts and larger classes.
It’s been an exceptional year, and although teachers have a provincial framework agreement in place, the school year ahead will also be noteworthy for teachers and their profession. The Alberta government’s agenda includes establishing regulations for the Education Act, continuing the curriculum review, reviewing teachers’ assigned tasks, launching a third-party workload study and establishing the Teacher Development and Practice Advisory Committee. Equally important, the government must rebuild a positive relationship with its teachers.
This fall, school boards will hold trustee elections, embark on joint reviews with teachers on locally assigned tasks and continue with local bargaining under the framework. Funding will remain an issue with boards and teachers as they struggle to cope with increased student enrolment. The Alberta Teachers’ Association will continue to advocate for improved funding and work to change the province’s 2013 budget while generating support for revenue reform in the 2014 budget.
All of the above, but in particular relationship-building, joint workload reviews with boards, trustee elections and advocating for improved funding, will require the ongoing engagement of teachers and their Association. Good things can happen to improve the lives of teachers and the education of students, but improvements can occur only through a unified teacher voice.
Although the next school year shouldn’t be as tumultuous as the current one, the future will only brighten through the diligence and resolve of teachers.
In the meantime, take some time to relax and enjoy a great summer!
I welcome your comments—contact me at jonathan.teghtmeyer@ata.ab.ca.
