Teachers Anticipating Big Crowd At Hat Rally

Medicine Hat teachers preparing for an anticipated large rally at Kin Coulee Wednesday by handing out signs, making a few of. their own and giving out T-shirts. The rally starts at noon at the Kin Coulee bandshell. (Photo Alex McCuaig)

Striking teachers and supporters were handing out pre-made signs and making a few of their own at Kin Coulee in anticipation of big rally at the park on Wednesday.

“I’m from Medicine Hat so I know a gaslight when I see it,” said Micheal Jerred, Alberta Teachers’ Association Local #1 President, about claims the current government offer would make educators the highest paid in Western Canada. “Salary is part of the equation but it’s not the most important issue.”

Classroom funding is more important than teachers’ salaries he said and being the lowest funded education system in the country comes with consequences.

“We have seen in the past few years our class sizes increase and, of course, complexity,” Jerred told the Owl. “The reality of what the government has proposed to us, from the perspective of teachers in Medicine Hat, is that it looks like further decline.”

Part of the proposed offer from the province includes a 3 per cent per year raise over four years as well as a salary grid unification.

While that measure could see some teachers receive more than the 12 per cent wage increase over the term of the contract, Jerred says local teachers aren’t likely going to see that increase.

Jerred says local teachers want to stall and reverse the class size increases to deal with students who require more attention or present with unique needs.

“We need to see an improvement in the system. We’re not expecting to be fixed overnight but we would need to see the curve to change direction,” he said. “Teachers are worried about what this looks like in another four years.”

As for Jerred’s message to parents struggling already and now faced with childcare issues, he said teachers don’t want to be on strike.

“To the extent we are causing any hardship to families, we apologize, but we feel this is important – not just for salaries, for our working conditions but safe, public education in Alberta,” he said.

Jerred said a big turnout at the Kin Coulee bandshell of not just educators but parents who want to protect classrooms will help end the strike launched this week.

Thursday’s ATA rally takes place starting at noon on Wednesday at the Kin Coulee bandshell.