The stage is set for a fall confrontation between Alberta teachers and the Alberta government that has been brewing for years. While there has not been a strike by teachers in Alberta since 1992, the conditions are in place for widespread disruptions throughout the province in the months following the return to classrooms after Labour Day.

Premier Ralph Klein had contributed to a growing expectation that the province would finally address teachers’ growing frustration with wages and working conditions. In early April the Premier stated that teachers had been "part of the solution" a few years ago, and that "we’ll make sure that they are fairly compensated and given as good a work environment as possible so that they know how much they are appreciated." In the light of earlier settlements that gave increases of about 22% to the province’s doctors and nurses, Klein’s comments were very encouraging.

Instead, the 2001/02 provincial budget featured an unprecedented government intervention into local collective bargaining in education, with the introduction of a budget line-item which allocated 4% to school boards for teacher salary increases, and 2% for 2002/03.

According to Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) President Larry Booi, the government’s actions dashed teachers’ hopes for improvement in classrooms and compensation, and instead confronted them with a provocative intervention into local bargaining. "The government had an unparalleled opportunity to strengthen Alberta’s public education system by addressing the legitimate concerns in education as they did in health care," he said. "Instead, they chose to pick a fight with Alberta’s teaching profession."

At their annual meeting in May, Alberta teacher representatives voted overwhelmingly for an action plan which involves provincially coordinated local bargaining, heightened political action by teachers at the school and local level, and a concerted media campaign for the fall.

Booi stated that, given the government’s actions, greater provincial coordination of bargaining by teachers was seen as essential. "We still favour local bargaining, but the government’s unprecedented move to specify teacher salary increases has undermined school boards, and requires a provincial response on the part of teachers," he said.

Of the ATA’s 61 locals, nine had previously signed multi-year agreements, leaving 52 bargaining units with contracts expiring on August 31 of this year. Since school boards receive their funding from the provinces and have lost their power to raise revenue on their own, the key to resolving the disputes rests with the provincial government, said Booi. "The government addressed the legitimate concerns in the health care sector by making the necessary investments. They need to do the same in education, and everyone will benefit."