External intervention in local bargaining creates mess, says ASBA
Release date: January 16, 2002
As of January 16, teachers in six school jurisdictions, serving more than 124,000
students, are in a legal strike position. “School boards across the province
are extremely concerned about what a labor disruption will mean for the students
we educate,” said Alberta School Boards Association President, Michele
Mulder. “We appeal to all involved to keep the students in mind as they
make decisions in the days and weeks to come.”
Local negotiations have not been going well, said Mulder. “For the past
four months school boards have been at bargaining tables with their local teachers,
but in this climate where provincial level forces are at play, we face the very
real possibility that 124,000 students – if not more -- could be out of
classrooms within weeks,” said Mulder, who is a trustee with the Battle
River School Division.
Mulder said Alberta’s negotiating climate changed when the provincial
government decided to earmark six per cent, over two years, within school board
budgets for teacher salaries and the Alberta Teachers’ Association moved
to tell local groups of teachers what contract terms they could accept from
their employers -- the school boards.
“Frustrated doesn’t begin to describe how school boards feel –
frustrated and extremely concerned about where students fit in this dark picture,”
said Mulder of the provincial-level intervention in the local bargaining process
and the resulting labor unrest.
“I’ve never seen anything like this. For years, school boards have
successfully concluded agreements with their teachers. Four months into this
round of negotiations only one of 52 school boards, whose contract with their
teachers expired in 2001, has reached a settlement with its teachers –
and the provincial ATA has refused to sign off on that deal.”
Mulder called the 2001-2002 negotiations a “checklist” march toward
a strike – one school board was advanced to mediation immediately after
exchanging proposals and several boards were advanced to mediation after virtually
no negotiations.
“Historically, school boards have demonstrated they are fair and excellent
negotiators. Over the years, they have routinely achieved reasonable settlements
with their employees in a peaceful manner,” said Mulder.
“School boards play a unique role in negotiations. As elected people,
school boards are the keepers of many interests: they focus on what is best
for the students they serve; what the communities that elected them expect of
and need from the jurisdiction; what it means to be a fair employer and what
is possible within the constraints of their budgets. Negotiating with teachers
is a very challenging job – but it’s a job school boards have accepted
and fulfilled ably and responsibly for years.”
Mulder continues to hope settlements will be reached. “Students lose when
there are strikes, I hope everybody involved keeps them in mind as they make
decisions in the coming days and weeks.”
Recognizing the possibility teachers may strike, school boards across the province
have developed contingency plans in case teachers do decide to walk out, said
Mulder.
“Right up to the last minute, I hope this will be resolved,” said
Mulder. “The harsh reality is there is a great chasm between the 20 per
cent over one year that the teachers want and the six per cent, over two years,
that boards have been given by the government for teacher compensation.”
For more information contact: Michele Mulder, ASBA President at 1.780.679.5627 (cell).
The Alberta School Boards Association serves and represents all Alberta’s public, separate and francophone school boards.
