With news of a looming teacher strike and potential lockout, ARTA stands in solidarity with our province’s active teachers.
We have sent a letter expressing our support to Demetrios Nicolaides, Alberta’s Minister of Education and Childcare, and Jason Schilling, the president of the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA). You can find that letter in the link below.
Alberta’s education system has become increasingly overburdened in the last few years, with classroom teachers seeing ever-increasing class sizes, cuts to supports, and stagnant salaries that have not kept pace with inflation.
On top of all this, their professional expertise has repeatedly been challenged or ignored as new curriculums and ministerial orders are introduced, without proper consultation, often coming into conflict with educational best-practices.
At the time of sending this post, negotiations are still ongoing. It is our hope that a resolution can be reached that addresses the issues laid out by the ATA.
However, in the event of a strike or lockout, we encourage you to stand alongside teachers in your community, whether by joining picket lines with your former colleagues, or through other means, such as writing to your MLA or advocating on behalf of teachers to members of your community.
Teachers are the backbone of Alberta’s robust education system, and when teachers are empowered to do their jobs effectively, all Albertans benefit.