Alberta's Minister of Education, Jeff Johnson, has ended negotiations with the Alberta Teachers' Association while removing previously offered financial incentives.

The Alberta Teachers' Association Associate Coordinator of Communications Jonathan Teghtmeyer calls Minister Johnson's email an unprecedented, direct intrusion.  Teghtmeyer adds that he is not surprised by the Education Minister's letter given "the minister's continuing efforts to escalate tension and public concern around bargaining."

The following is the email sent to the province's school board trustees by Minister Johnson on the evening of March 1, 2013.

 

Thank you to all of the trustees who have taken the time to meet with me over the last several weeks. I appreciate hearing your successes and your challenges, and the opportunity to share with you the fiscal realities we are facing as a province.

As I outlined in our meetings, the government’s fiscal situation has changed significantly over the last several months and the widening gaps between the world price of oil and the price that Alberta receives paint a difficult financial picture.

At the same time, our strong economy continues to draw people to our province, placing increased pressures on many of you who are facing increasing enrolments as a result. I am also aware how reduced enrolment in our rural areas has put pressure on many boards.

As you and your trustees continue to negotiate with the provincial ATA, I urge you to keep these fiscal realities in mind. Our teachers are already the highest paid among the provinces. While we are proud that our teachers are well compensated and we all benefit from the competitive advantage that gives us, we can’t afford to let the gap between them and their counterparts across the country to grow.

Albertans expect our government to live within our means. They also expect school boards to live within your means. Collective agreements with teachers must ensure our world class education system remains sustainable.

Many of you have approached me about taking the offer I recently tabled to your local teachers for consideration. I would encourage that, but please note that I am no longer in position to fund any form of cash incentive for the next four years.

Provincial negotiations are over. The incentives I offered are off the table. Further, be aware that any negotiated deals must include wage freezes for three years and no more than a 2% increase in the fourth year. Anything else is simply not sustainable for our education system and will not be funded by government.

I recognize that this is a difficult position for school boards, but it is critical that all boards work within this framework. I would also remind boards to ensure I have 10 business days to review any potential agreements.

I trust that by working together, we can ensure that we maintain the world-class education system we are all so proud and ensure it is sustainable going forward.

Sincerely,

Jeff Johnson

Minister of Education

MLA, Athabasca-Sturgeon-Redwater