Teachers March On Premier’s Hat Office, Hopeful for End of Strike

Striking teachers outside of Medicine Hat City Hall on Tuesday. (Photo Alex McCuaig)

Striking Medicine Hat teachers took to the streets on Tuesday as the labour strife between teachers and the province entered its second week.

The move comes as negotiations between the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) have resumed and the possibility for settlement could be near, according to a local union president.

“We’re back to the table today with the mediator which is a positive and hopeful step,” said Michael Jerred, ATA Local #1 president on Tuesday. “Last week we had informal conversations with (Teachers’ Employer Bargaining Association), the government’s bargaining committee, and so it’s positive the mediator is back at the table.”

Nearly 500 teachers and their supporters made their way from the Arena to Medicine Hat MLA Premier Danielle Smith’s constituency office in Crescent Heights during the mid-day march.

The march saw dozens of letters and postcards either taped or left at the door of Smith’s constituency office which was closed.

Jerred stated if a resolution to the strike can be found in the next couple of days, students could be back in classrooms as soon as Monday or Tuesday next week.

Any deal would require at least 72 hours for teachers to review prior to a vote to either accept or reject the latest proposal.

Jerred reiterated his message to parents, apologizing for the hardships they may be feeling.

“But we do believe we are fighting for more than just our salaries. It’s the state of public education. This process has been quite health because people have come to understand some of the issue a little bit better and they need to be addressed in the classroom,” he said.

Nearly 51,000 teachers, province-wide, have been on strike since Oct. 6.

Tuesday’s march follows a large rally held at Kin Coulee last week.