Wild Rose School Division (WRSD) and Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools (RDCRS) have weighed in on the current status of the provincial collective bargaining process involving teachers.
“WRSD will be receiving guidance from the provincial level in the case of any job action,” reads a statement from WRSD. “We understand that there are many questions regarding graduations, diploma exams, provincial achievement tests, year end field trips, etc. There are too many possible situations to provide answers at this time but we will continue to communicate with WRSD families should there be significant updates to the situation.”
West Central High School in Rocky Mountain House (94.5 Rewind Radio file photo)
Ryan Ledene, acting superintendent at Red Deer Catholic Regional School Division, said the following:
“Obviously TEBA and the ATA have reached an important juncture in labour negotiations. We remain hopeful that an agreement can be reached through mediation and are committed to keeping stakeholders informed as information becomes available.”
St. Dominic Catholic High School in Rocky Mountain House (94.5 Rewind Radio file photo)
Alberta teachers have voted 95 per cent in favour of striking — sending the “unmistakeable message” they are united and determined to no longer “hold up a crumbling education system.”
The vote took place June 5-8 with 39,000 ballots cast, making up about 77 per cent of teachers who were eligible to vote.
The vote is valid for 120 days, and the union must give 72 hours’ notice before hitting the picket lines.
It’s important to discern this vote followed up and is different from the vote which took place during the last week of May. That was classified as a strike vote authorization vote, and allowed for the more recent vote to take place.
“For too long, teachers have been propping up a system that is under-resourced and overburdened. We are expected to do more with less every year,” said President Jason Schilling, adding that the current attention to education is short-changing students’ lives.
“The government needs to act now, because Alberta’s kids can’t wait. The future of public education—our future—depends on it.”
A strike is not necessarily imminent, he clarified.
The ATA’s provincial executive council will now determine next steps, but is scheduled to be back at the table with the Teachers’ Employer Bargaining Association (TEBA) on June 19 and 20.
~with files from rdnewsNOW
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