Alberta teachers reject contract offer, setting up province-wide strike on Oct. 6

Alberta teachers have firmly rejected the province’s latest contract offer, setting the stage for a potential provincewide strike next week on Oct. 6.

A strike would see classes disrupted for more than 700,000 students across 2,500 schools.

Alberta Teachers’ Association president Jason Schilling told reporters Monday, after 90 per cent of those who voted rejected the deal, that the result was a “historical no” and a sign of just how disrespected teachers are feeling.

Nearly 42,600 educators cast their votes over the weekend, with 38,113 — 89.5 percent — rejecting the offer and 4,479  — 10.5 per cent — voting to accept it.

Schilling said the union, which represents 51,000 teachers across Alberta, is open to further negotiations but all signs are pointing to teachers hitting the picket lines next Monday.

“If government comes with something that is similar to this, I don’t know if my colleagues across the province would tolerate that kind of deal,” Schilling said.

“Our members quite honestly are feeling extremely disrespected by government, especially this government.”

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The rejected offer included a 12-per-cent pay raise over four years and a government promise to hire 3,000 more teachers to address class sizes.

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“The overwhelming rejection of the tentative agreement highlights the gap between teachers’ lived realities in the classroom and the government’s perception of public education in Alberta,” the ATA said in a news release Monday night.

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Teachers also would’ve had the cost of their COVID-19 vaccines covered by the government as part of the contract.

The government has said the contract would’ve been good for Alberta’s education system, saying it was strong on classroom investment.

Finance Minister Nate Horner said Monday he was disappointed with the vote as it’s the government’s position the offer would’ve addressed major issues for teachers, such as overcrowded classrooms.

“With over 50,000 new students added to our education system in the last two years, these investments were needed now more than ever,” Horner said in a statement.

He also laid blame on union leaders for not explaining clearly what it is that teachers are looking for.

“This is the second time teachers have rejected a potential settlement that provided what their union said teachers wanted in response to growing classroom complexities,” he said.

“I encourage the (union’s) leadership to take time to meet with their members and gain clarity on what teachers are seeking out of a deal.

“Students and families deserve stability.”

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Premier Danielle Smith, Finance Minister Nate Horner and Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides are set to share details on “financial and educational supports available in the event of a teacher strike.” That news conference is slated for noon Tuesday.

Schilling says the vote makes it clear that teachers found the offer unacceptable.

“The proposed agreement failed to meet the needs of teachers, failed to improve student classroom conditions in a concrete and meaningful way, and failed to show teachers the respect they deserve,” Schilling said in a statement.

The Opposition NDP said it stands by teachers, families and students.

“It is disappointing the UCP government has let it get to this point and now thousands of Alberta teachers will hit the picket lines, while parents are scrambling to make arrangements, and our kids’ learning is put on hold,” said Amanda Chapman, the NDP shadow minister of education.