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Johnson viewed as interfering in bargaining process
Alberta’s Education Minister, Jeff Johnson, has been touring the province to gather support from school boards for a legislated settlement to teacher contract negotiations.
In the view of the Association, a legislated settlement would be a draconian assault on the charter rights of teachers. Even discussing a legislated settlement with school boards is interference in the local collective bargaining process currently under way.
“Teachers would view the notion of a legislated settlement as a direct attack,” said Carol Henderson, president of the Alberta Teachers’ Association. “This approach was used recently by governments in Ontario and British Columbia and it resulted in labour unrest and discord with teachers. It is unwarranted and unnecessary, especially as local bargaining on all matters has only recently resumed.”
Henderson said the government had an opportunity to facilitate the settlement of collective agreements when the ATA presented a proposal to Premier Alison Redford on November 30, 2012. The proposal would have brought about four more years of labour peace in education, while containing costs for the government and improving classrooms for students. Teacher salary increases would have been limited to 0 per cent, 0 per cent, 1 per cent and 3 per cent over the four years, and improvement to teachers’ conditions of practice would have provided more time to prepare for instruction.
“Unfortunately, the minister rejected our offer and now he feels it is necessary to interject himself completely in local bargaining,” said Henderson.
“First, he wanted to sign off on local agreements, then he floated the idea of merit pay and now he’s talking about forcing agreements on teachers and boards.” Continued Henderson, “Instead of provoking teachers and damaging relationships, the minister should step out of the way and allow local bargaining to continue. It is the way we have settled agreements for decades in this province.”
