ATA says Red Deer Catholic taking ‘unusual’ steps in bargaining with teachers

This spurs a two-week cooling off period ending March 12, the union explains, adding that it could open the door to locking out teachers.

“Our desire has always been to reach an agreement without a disruption to schools. Fifty-eight of 61 school divisions have a deal, so we know an agreement is very much achievable if we just use those other settlements as a guide,” says Sara Lambert, president, Red Deer Catholic ATA Local No. 80. “We strongly believe the mediator will be helpful in getting the parties to a settlement.”

The union goes on to say they worry that without a mediator, the division plans to, “waste time and thwart a settlement.”

Bargaining is to be held March 7, but teachers are agreeing to continue meeting March 8 instead and only if it’s clear the board is prepared to make meaningful progress.

“If the board intends to get down to the business of bargaining, we can get a deal done this week,” Lambert adds. “That is what we want. However, if it looks like the board is wasting our time, playing games and ignoring the trend set across the rest of the province, there is no point continuing.”

The ATA says it’s simply looking for an agreement reflective of what’s been reached in other jurisdictions, including improvements related to substitute teachers and school admins. They call the solutions low-cost and reasonable.

Red Deer Catholic, which in a response Wednesday calls the ATA Local’s statement a surprise, employs about 700 contracted and substitute teachers around central Alberta.

Vice Board Chair and Trustee Dorraine Lonsdale says Red Deer Catholic believes that factual reporting of events, activities, and matters pertinent to local teacher negotiations with the ATA is now necessary for the community to understand what is involved in local teacher negotiations.

“To this end, RDCRS has opened a section of our website to report to our communities on our local teacher negotiations. Information will be shared on a regular basis as we continue to negotiate with the ATA,” says Lonsdale.

“It is the intention of RDCRS to continue a principled and respectful approach while bargaining the local items tabled by both parties. The school division highly values its teachers and in addition, we are responsible to students, parents, and our communities.”

In the release from Red Deer Catholic, the division shares recent communication from the mediator.

“Further to my phone calls with each of you on Friday, I understand that the Employer reviewed the ‘binary choice’ in Sean’s [Brown, ATA chief negotiator) email of February 15, 2024, and agreed the next step should be for the mediator to write out and let the cooling off period begin. However, I understand the Employer is willing to meet with the ATA, without the mediator, on March 7 and 8, 2024 during the hours previously discussed (evening and day),” the mediator stated.

“I have decided to not issue recommended terms of settlement at this time as I feel the parties are too far apart in their current positions.”

‘Binary choice,’ as referred to by Brown, is defined as:

“1. The employer bargaining team returns to the table and listens to its teachers.Furthermore, that the employer be prepared to move on the items that members need. (Our preferred option), or

2. The mediator will need to write out and the two-week cooling off period will commence.”

Lonsdale adds that the division has a duty to preserve its programs and services, to manage the complex education system, and be financially accountable.

“These three pillars extend also to our bargaining of collective agreements affecting our employees,” she says. “RDCRS takes these responsibilities seriously, and these responsibilities always remain an important part of our considerations.”

The division says it is committed to serving children and parents with a complete offering of learning opportunities delivered within the context of Catholic teachings and within the means of the division.

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by Josh Hall | @Vancan19

ATA says Red Deer Catholic taking ‘unusual’ steps in bargaining with teachers

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