PRPS teachers stand in solidarity during provincial strike

Southern Alberta Newspapers Photo by Brendan Miller. PROVINCIAL STRIKE: Hundreds of teachers, supporters and students gathered in Kin Coulee Park Oct. 8 for a gathering to support striking teachers across the province. A march for education is being planned this week if strike action continues.

By Brendan Miller
Southern Alberta Newspapers

Hundreds of local educators, supporters and students gathered in Kin Coulee Park on Oct. 8, many wearing red shirts saying “I Heart Alberta Education” and holding signs sharing their support.

Members of Prairie Rose Public Schools and Grasslands Public Schools from Brooks, as well as Medicine Hat Public School Division and the Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education, attended a large rally held at the Kin Coulee Bandshell from noon until 3 p.m.

The gathering included speeches from officials with the Alberta Teachers’ Association, educators and a student who attends Medicine Hat High School, then concluded with a free barbecue for participants.

Medicine Hat Local No. 1 president Michael Jerred says teachers, especially those in Medicine Hat, are eager to see both sides, the ATA and the Teachers’ Employer Bargaining Association, come back to the negotiation table as soon as possible to strike a deal.

“I feel like we have the public support, right now we are unified and have solidarity across the province in what we are trying to accomplish,” said Jerred. “We’d like to see them come back to the negotiating table.”

However on Oct. 6, the TEBA provided a lockout notice to the ATA, which began Oct. 9 at 1 p.m.

“I know they’re claiming they’re there waiting (at the bargaining table), that’s just not true,” said Jerred. “But we’d like to see a resolution to this at the negotiating table as fast as possible so we can all get back to work and get back in our classrooms with our kids.”

Jerred explains teachers in the southeast region of the province are fighting for better wages with their colleagues around the province, but specifically, local educators are worried about high classroom sizes and the growing complexities they see from students and their ability to support their students.

“So that complexity is a big umbrella,” said Jerred. “But we’re feeling the strain of it. There are consequences of being the lowest funded system in all of Canada, and we’re feeling it now. I think that’s why you see so much support across the province.”

A statement regarding the lockout notice by TEBA chair Scott McCormack says the process is routine and used in response to unions going on strike.

“The lockout will provide predictability and stability for students,” said McCormack. “TEBA remains dedicated to reaching a collective agreement and expects that the ATA will continue to bargain in good faith to reach a fair deal for teachers, school boards and our kids.”

Jerred says the government has been “antagonistic” during negotiations and cites a breakdown in negotiations causing the majority of educators to walk off the job.

The strike action follows a nearly 90-per-cent rejection of a tentative agreement on Sept. 29.

“We are not heading in the right direction, we need to see the curve change. We need to see some improvements,” said Jerred.

Local teachers are planning to participate in a march for education this week around Medicine Hat if strike action continues. Logistics for the events are still being finalized, but organizers are planning the march near Premier Danielle Smith’s constituency office.

Communications from Prairie Rose Public Schools has been made to parents and guardians about the impacts of the strike, and updated information is posted on the  Prairie Rose Public Schools website.