300 northern Alberta teachers authorize strike vote
About 300 northern Alberta teachers have authorized their negotiators to seek a government-supervised strike vote, clearing the way for a possible job action which could affect thousands of students.
During their annual general meeting on Monday, teachers employed by Northern Gateway School Division voted 99 per cent in favour of authorizing the Alberta Teachers' Association to make the request.
The authorization vote held Monday is considered a pre-emptive step in pursuing job action. Northern Gateway teachers can now apply to hold a government-supervised strike vote at any time.
If the teachers do vote to strike in the future, teachers could legally strike after providing 48 hours' notice to the employer.
Division teachers have been working for over two years without a finalized collective agreement, the ATA said.
"Northern Gateway teachers are frustrated, and disappointed that they are being treated without consideration, in light of everything they are being challenged with while teaching in the middle of a pandemic," Katrina Zack, President of the ATA Northern Gateway Local No 43, said in a statement.
"While the teachers were trying to negotiate, the employer decided to stall the finalizing of a contract that expired two years ago.
Zack said she hopes Monday's authorization vote will pressure her employer to return to negotiations.
"There is enough stress right now, and teachers do not need to deal with contract negotiations that could lead to job actions because the employer won't settle on standard working conditions."
The public school board serves Woodlands County, Lac Ste. Anne County and part of the Municipal District of Greenview No. 16.
The division operates 16 schools, four colony schools and four off-campus outreach programs, serving around 5,000 students in the communities of Alberta Beach, Onoway, Rich Valley, Darwell, Sangudo, Mayerthorpe, Whitecourt, Fox Creek and Valleyview.
'A last resort'
Negotiations between teachers and the division began to stall earlier this month. A government-appointed mediator concluded that the two sides were too far apart to reach a mediated settlement and chose to "write out" of the process on November 2, Zack said.
Following a two-week cooling off period, the parties were free to reach an agreement on their own or begin the process of moving toward a strike or lockout.
At a general meeting on Monday, the teachers reviewed the last offer proposed by the division.
The ATA said the latest offer "attempts to strip their collective agreement of a number of long-standing provisions that are standard parts of collective agreements elsewhere."
The provisions being contested are related to teacher leave, substitute teachers and access to time in lieu hours for school administrators, Zack said.
Zack said a work stoppage can be avoided if the board returns to the bargaining table.
"We are not making unreasonable demands; we just want to be treated fairly," she said.
"We are prepared to negotiate if the board is willing to engage in meaningful discussions — a work stoppage is a last resort."
The division board has not yet responded to a request for comment.
