Photo by Shane Clausing

By Curtis Galbraith

ATA Pres

Teachers preparing for contract talks, worried about cuts: ATA President

Mar 9, 2020 | 9:49 AM

GRANDE PRAIRIE, AB – The President of the Alberta Teachers Association says teachers are very concerned about potential cuts to education after the new provincial budget.

Jason Schilling says the 2019 budget already contained a $136-million cut to school boards, something the union worries will affect jobs.

“We’ll also be worried about how that would affect our class sizes and the diversity within our classrooms, supports for students with special needs, and English language learners as well. We have a lot of English language learner students in our school system and we need to make sure that they’re supported.”

He is also hoping there is enough money for teachers to implement the new curriculum the province is bringing in.

Schilling says the process starts now to get ready for contract talks with the province.

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The current deal for teachers expires in August.

He adds that work will include surveying teachers before putting together an initial proposal.

“Teachers, the last couple rounds, have wanted to see improvements to class size and composition and salaries as well and so we’ll have to see how that process unfolds.”

Schilling says he can’t predict what – if any – job action might happen if talks do not go well as that is controlled by the teachers.

“We know that there are some things that we need to see improved in public education in Alberta and I know that teachers are anxious to make sure that those improvements happen. But, will that end up in some sort of job action? I couldn’t tell you right now. That would be later on down the road.”

Schilling says he was not surprised the provincial government brought in legislation to put the Finance Ministry rather than Education in charge of negotiations, as it is a cost issue for the government.