Sonia Drozd

@NateHornerAB How about classroom caps and count learners with complex needs as two students?!?! How about restoring PUF to previous levels? How about getting rid of the ridiculous September assessments! That along with the wage increase should take care of it. Elbows up!

“I am disappointed that Alberta’s teachers have voted to reject the tentative agreement for a new four-year central agreement. “This is the second time teachers have rejected a potential settlement that provided what their union said teachers wanted in response to growing classroom complexities. “The ATA’s rejected deal would have provided tremendous investments in classroom supports to help alleviate population growth and classroom complexity pressures with the hiring of 3,000 new teachers and over 1,500 new educational assistants in public, separate and Francophone classrooms. This would have been in addition to the hiring required to replace retiring and departing teachers. “The deal also would have provided a general wage increase of 12 per cent over the four-year term, as well as a wage grid unification which would have provided more than 95 per cent of teachers even larger wage increases up to 17 per cent. These adjustments would have resulted in greater salary increases for newer teachers to help address recruitment and retention issues. Increases in northern incentives and substitute teacher pay would also have been secured through the new deal. Alberta teachers would have been receiving the highest pay in western Canada after taxes. “With over 50,000 new students added to our education system in the last 2 years, these investments were needed now more than ever. “It is now up to the union to determine its next steps. “With two failed ratification votes, I am left questioning whether the union fully understands what their members are seeking. If teachers did not want this deal, then why was it proposed by the ATA it in the first place? “I encourage the ATA’s leadership to take time to meet with their members and gain clarity on what teachers are seeking out of a deal. Students and families deserve stability. “In the meantime, the government will continue putting Alberta’s students first. In the coming days we will announce the supports available to parents and students in the event of a strike. “Alberta’s government is committed to reaching a fair deal for our teachers so we can keep our kids in school.”

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