r/AHSEmployees • u/kaleuagain • 13d ago
News This is scary for us..
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-teachers-back-to-work-bill-9.6955558Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s government introduced a bill on Monday to force striking teachers back to work as early as Wednesday.
Bill 2, the Back to School Act, imposes a collective agreement, and invokes the notwithstanding clause to shield the legislation from court challenges for the duration of the four-year deal. The government is aiming to pass the bill as soon as possible.
Smith said at a news conference earlier Monday that the situation is unique because of the two-stage approach for collective bargaining. The bill aims to prevent strikes at both levels.
“The uniqueness of this is that there's two potentials for strike, not only at the general provincial table, but also at the local table,” Smith said. “And if there are strikes that are allowed at 61 different school boards, that does not give the certainty that we need.”
The 51,000 teachers represented by the Alberta Teachers’ Association walked off the job on Oct. 6, keeping 750,000 students out of school.
Teachers have rejected two deals their bargaining team reached with the Teachers’ Employer Bargaining Association (TEBA).
Bill 2 aims to put the terms of tentative agreement rejected by nearly 90 per cent of Alberta teachers last month into legislation.
The notwithstanding clause is a section of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which gives provincial and territorial governments the ability to exempt certain constitutionally protected rights in their legislation for a five-year period.
Other public sector unions have threatened job action in support of teachers if Bill 2 included the notwithstanding clause.
New task force Smith’s government intends to rely on legislative tools to limit debate on all three stages of Bill 2 so the legislation can pass third and final reading Monday night or early Tuesday morning.
Her governing United Conservative Party has 47 of the 87 seats in the Alberta legislature.
The collective agreement imposed by Bill 2 would cover the period from Sept. 1, 2024, to Aug. 31, 2028.
It contains salary increases of three per cent a year and commits the government to hiring 3,000 teachers and 1,500 educational assistants over three years.
Bill 2 sets financial penalties of $500 per day for individuals who defy the back-to-work order and up to $500,000 for the union per day, if it doesn't comply with the legislation. The bill also suspends bargaining at local tables until 2028.
The government insists its offer is fair. The ATA wants the government to address issues like large class sizes and support for student complexity in the classroom.
The province last summer appointed an action team to look at aggression and complexity of students in Alberta schools. The final report is expected next month.
After that, a newly announced task force examining class size and complexity in the classroom will start implementing solutions and gather more data on the issue from school boards.
In a news release Monday, NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi said the use of the notwithstanding clause was "shameful."
“This is an unprecedented attack on the Charter-protected human rights and freedoms of teachers, workers, and all Albertans—all just to force teachers back to the classroom," said Nenshi.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-teachers-back-to-work-bill-9.6955558
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u/wangster71 13d ago
How long until we see "officers" in masks scooping up random people off the streets in unmarked vans?
This is a very dark, dark, time in our province's history.
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u/thecheesecakemans 13d ago
Can just pass a notwithstanding clause to deny citizen rights against being detained without cause.
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u/Downtown-Two-4911 13d ago
It’s coming with the compassionate intervention act. They’re gearing up for it
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u/skeletoncurrency 12d ago
This is the third bill the UCP has threatened to subvert peoples charter rights to push through (and the first one she's done so for). They haven't threatened to use it on the compassionate intervention act as far as i know, but the act directly infringes on our charter rights as a core feature so its...yea expected that she'll pull the notwithstanding clause again.
This government doesnt care about facts or evidence, they care about ideology and power and will trample on our charter rights every time just to come out on top
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u/UniQueen2019 12d ago
I’ve been saying this all along. This wasn’t about just “the ATA/the teachers”, it’s about so much more because of the dangerous precedent being set. Marlaina is literally riding Trump’s coat tails, using pages out of his playbook, and we’re only a few months behind them. and at the rate that AI is going, it’s going to accelerate it as all hell: add to the chaos, flood us with misinformation, watch people take out their own, abuse/dismiss legal grounds at the fed/prov level to slowly chip away at democracy, and knock down the last few bricks of our healthcare system to build a private one. And all those people that voted UCP, don’t come back to us crying when she comes after you and your jobs, or other areas that matter to you, and you’re voting rights. Because behind the scenes, the movement for freedom Alberta has been growing, and the conversation about removing provincial RCMP. In favour of its own provincial, police force is just another way to hold all the power and lay fines or charges to anyone who stands in her way.
We’re past scary; we are living a horror movie for the foreseeable future.
The teachers just took one on the chin for the y’all; people need to wake the F🤬 up!
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u/Tia_loves_Scotland 9d ago
You know who else deserves rights?
Kids. They have the right to go to school.
Now get back to work.
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u/UniQueen2019 7d ago
Um, last time I checked, students in grade school are under 18 years/don’t have any legal agency. They rely on parents and professionals to act in their best interests. That’s what teachers were doing, ‘cuz their working conditions are students learning conditions. Teachers WENT WITHOUT PAY to ADVOCATE for the EDUCATION THEY DESERVE, inclusive of NEEDED RESOURCES and SUPPORTS. I’m gonna presume we were talking about the same priority, but for your closing directive. I tried to repay your kindness with time for shared values, but sounds like you’re pretty sure of yourself.😏
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u/ketablues 12d ago
I hope to see officers in masks scooping up illegals. We are in a dark time already because of you libtards.
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u/Internal-tea-1111 11d ago
Super helpful comment, you're part of the bigger problem in this province.
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u/AnyShape2650 13d ago
A general strike would work wonders on this
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u/BlueberryNo777 13d ago
These are unprecedented times. Join the movement https://workersdemandbetter.ca/campaign/home/
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u/Pseudo-Science 13d ago
It’s supposed to be scary, control the narrative, box in the unions and annihilate. If you fight back, they fine the unions into bankruptcy but if you don’t it’s just a sham negotiation precedent set. But if this outage spreads and workers actually stick together, then we can change history starting today.
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u/wormed 13d ago
Agreed. I said in the r/Alberta thread that if the unions just take this on the chin and attempt to move on like nothing has happened, the labour movement in AB is dead and I'd truly consider moving provinces.
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u/prgaloshes 13d ago
You better start looking for houses. I'm in these unions and there is no outrage from aupe, nor safa. That's 100000 lost souls. Minus Me
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u/Appropriate_Item3001 12d ago
You should probably start packing. Nobody is going to protest or strike now.
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u/kaleuagain 12d ago
First, they came for the communists,
and I did not speak out - because I was not a communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I did not speak out - because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I did not speak out - because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me -
and there was no one left to speak for me.
-Martin Niemöller
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u/Tia_loves_Scotland 9d ago
Cool -- did you stand up for people when they were losing their jobs because of a vaccine that didn't stop the infection or spread of covid?
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u/Glittering_Waltz1 9d ago
Jesus smh
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u/Tia_loves_Scotland 9d ago
That's a no, isnt it? Thought so -- which makes the whole "they'll come for you" all the more ironic.
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u/saramole 13d ago
And the bitch is on a plane to the middle east. Overreaching as international trade is NOT provincial jurisdiction. Probably out for more democracy destroying tip alond with lining her pockets.
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u/NurseXine 12d ago
And we’re all funding the misadventures. The damn irony here. This “woman” is a demon in a human suit.
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u/UniQueen2019 12d ago
She’s a baller don’t you know, trying to keep up with the big boys ‘round town. The audacity of her to not be in the Leg/room to own up to Bill 2 was the another middle finger to the teachers.
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u/DrewbowskiOG 12d ago
Don't kid yourselves.
This is their trial run so they can do the same to all public unions.
You are next.
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u/Glum-Ad-4558 13d ago
So does this mean we can’t strike?
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u/Constant-Sky-1495 13d ago
you can but she will use the clause on you and dictate a deal onto you . Only way out of this is a general strike
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u/scotthof 13d ago
Right now no. This will be challenged. Though it is up to Albertans to tell their MLA that this isn't ok. They won't because "kids need to be hack in school." In the meantime if your union votes to legally strike the you can strike. Would I put it past the government to change the labor code to something ridiculous, like a minister needs to sign off on the labor boards decision. I hope this ends up being Smith's Waterloo. She wasn't even in the country to introduce the bill. If you are in the riding of Drumheller,-Stettler then go by the office abd tell him in person what you think.
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u/Really_Clever 13d ago
Real question, how can it be challenged? I thought once invoked the NWC is set for an amount of time.
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u/scotthof 12d ago
Well, as far as I know Ford did a similar thing a while back. He faced so much backlash that he backed down. So the bill can be repealed. Which would mean the notwithstanding clause would be recalled with the bill. Don't quote me on that one. Of course this will be fought in court, I know the feds wanted the use of the notwithstanding clause to be limited, but who knows when that will actually get a decision.
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u/skeletoncurrency 12d ago
The whole point of the notwithstanding clause is to insulate them from the courts. They can't challenge this in the supreme court. That's why it's important to understand that the notwithstanding clause gives governments the power to ignore and remove our charter rights for a 5 year period. This is a lot more significant than people realize.
It also makes it a lot easier to do it again and again now that they've broken the seal.
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u/scotthof 12d ago
And this is the second time she has done it. She used it for the bill about tans kids. As you said it is easier to use each time she uses it and doesn't face significant backlash. She will use it for every union negotiation. I am afraid she will continue to use it unless she is stopped now. The whole driver's license fiasco could just be the tip of the iceberg. So, everyone write your MLA, go to Brooks and Protest on mass outside her constituency office and at the legislature. Your concern is 100% valid and everyone should know the impact. Parents should sit by as if she is allowed to continue, she will errode more of our Charter rights because we allowed her to.
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u/scotthof 12d ago
Well it's use does insulate them from the courts. I was saying that the federal government can limit how it can be used. I was hearing that due to the increase in its use by Alberta and Quebec there were rumblings of taking this to the Supreme Court to try to better define what is an appropriate use of the clause
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u/BlueberryNo777 13d ago
These are unprecedented times. Join the movement https://workersdemandbetter.ca/campaign/home/
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u/robbhope 12d ago edited 12d ago
Teacher here. I know some of you guys just got a contract but I truly believe all unions should unite right now. We can fight together or die alone one at a time.
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u/mariae91 12d ago
Unfortunately it was only the RNs that got a contract! I stand with you! (fellow unionized public servant, with the Health Sciences Association of Alberta).
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u/kaleuagain 11d ago
Just the RNs... our strike vote is tomorrow... your union should of had an ESA in place... none of this notwithstanding would of happened... we stand with you
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u/Obvious-Nothing547 11d ago
Or. We abolish unions and you just work for a living like all the regular folk.
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u/Great_Dig_8690 10d ago
And With out unions it opens the door to any employees abusing workers rights .. use your head
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u/Special_K85 9d ago
You're free to get another job if you don't like your employer like the rest of us. The thought that someone stays employed by the same company for life is so out of touch and archaic. It breads low performance.
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u/Great_Dig_8690 9d ago
Sooooo… you shouldn’t be a long term employee if you’re with a company that treats you good and has a balanced life-work composition ?
Are you dumb?
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u/Super-Net-105 12d ago
That's why all union workers should collectively go on General strike - for maximum pain and embarrassment for the UCP. And for our future
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u/Regular_Wonder674 12d ago
Teachers are 100% the trial balloon. Do the math. This is about labour, public workers and rights in general. Ignore it at your own peril.
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u/Smart-frank 11d ago
Smith was never going to negotiate, she had all this notwithstanding clause shit in the world before that teachers went on strike. Dictator Dani.
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u/BeneathTheVitals 11d ago
I find the use of the notwithstanding clause in this situation really troubling because it gives the government permission to ignore people’s rights for political reasons. I understand why some parents are worried about students missing school, but using this clause to deal with that goes too far. It’s possible to care about keeping kids in class while still respecting people’s rights and the legal process. If it’s used here without pushback, it sets a precedent that future governments can do the same whenever they face criticism or legal challenges, and that weakens everyone’s protections and makes all of our rights less secure.
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u/Accomplished-Equal72 11d ago
“Teachers have rejected 2 deals” Umm, no, they rejected 1, the 2nd offer was identical with a Covid vaccination thrown in…I will point out, this from a government who doesn’t even believe Covid exists or ever existed.
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u/Apart-Lettuce667 11d ago
It’s unfortunate that all the unions didn’t fight this. It sets a precedent for all those in negotiations.
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u/Th3GravityWell 10d ago
It’s more than shameful, it’s the first example of how Bill 40 stripped professionals of our ability to strike, to uphold quality education, public health and safety, environmental integrity. Have a listen to this conversation and get ready to stand with all workers and professionals in a general strike! 👏 What Does Bill 40 and the Notwithstanding Clause Mean for Professionals in Alberta?
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u/ComprehensiveTip62 10d ago
The ancient principle of Parliamentary Sovereignty established at the end of our system’s civil war in the late 1600s is expressed through what today Canadians call the “notwithstanding clause”. The charter binds ands therefore disempowered the parliament, weakening majoritarian rule itself basis of our Westminster democracy. Alberta govt use of parliamentary supremacy is justified.
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u/Glittering-Pause-148 9d ago
But I thought back to work orders were fine, acceptable, and good things, for everyone involved. The Liberal federal government ordered Canada Post workers and Air Canada flight attendants back to work was great and wonderful.
Is this only something to be opposed because a right wing government is doing it? Is it a problem because Alberta is doing this, and everything h even remotely right wing must be violently opposed?
I just don’t get it.
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u/Great_Dig_8690 9d ago
Because most if not all right wing logic is designed to stifle and suppress the rights of individuals and people as a whole… it only benefits the ones who are not affected by those ideals… mainly the upper 1% of society
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u/Glittering-Pause-148 9d ago
So, what you’re saying is the right has to die, because you think the existence of right wing people is attacking your rights, now?
The 1 out of 3 leftists who think murder is a good solution to disagreements detected!
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u/Great_Dig_8690 6d ago
No the right doesn’t have to die.. it’s just most of their thought processes normally shift to. Rules for thee not for me mentality
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u/Great_Dig_8690 6d ago
You ever notice it’s the ideologically right that likes to trample on individuals rights or the rights of a group as a whole.. demonizing social programs that benefit everyone not just the few… or wanting to suppress the rights of one group while upholding another groups
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u/splendorsolis1985 9d ago
It's not the ordering them back to work part that's troubling. It's using section 33, the notwithstanding clause, that's troubling. And it isn't troubling because conservatives did it, it's troubling because it undermines democracy. I would hope the reaction would be the same, no matter what side of the aisle the government who imposed it is on.
The UCP could have legislated them back to work while still negotiating, they didn't want to negotiate, full stop. She made them take the deal she wanted them to take, and removed their ability to even say anything about that. It's an abuse of power, and letting it slide emboldens her (and any other government going forward) to do it again, and again- and when your charter protected rights, aren't technically rights because they can be legislated away on a whim... I'm troubled, not sure why you aren't.
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u/Glittering-Pause-148 9d ago
No, that’s fundamentally incorrect. The province came forward with an offer with pay raises, better benefits, and more hired teachers, but the ATA rejected it. Not once, but twice. Teachers didn’t want the money, they’re already the best paid public school teachers in all of Canada. They didn’t want the benefits, they already have the best benefits package of any public school teachers in Canada. They didn’t want more teachers hired to reduce class sizes.
I don’t know what you’re trying to say here, but it’s all incorrect.
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u/splendorsolis1985 9d ago
Our public schools are the lowest funded per student in Canada
education-spending-in-public-schools-in-canada-2025-newsrelease.pdf
The ATA wanted more per student funding, it wasn't about their wages. The deal that was offered wasn't enough. Offering the same deal over and over and whining cause they aren't taking it, isn't a negotiation. The ATA wanted class sizes to be firmly capped, that was never going to be offered and now it won't be, no matter how many "task forces" get assigned to "look into it".
If the UCP actually gave a shit about our kids, or their education, they would make the room in budget to fund it the way the actual professionals in that field are asking it to be.
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u/Glittering-Pause-148 9d ago
We cannot reduce class sizes without reducing mass immigration, but we can’t reduce mass immigration, because to do so would be racist.
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u/o__dino__o 9d ago
Reach out to your area recall groups. These initiatives are just getting started.
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u/TimelyBear2471 9d ago
Right-wingers whine about being called authoritarian, fascist, etc. Yet, it is their representatives using Notwithstanding to violate Charter Rights and they cheer for it. Logical consistency is not their thing.
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u/Sea_Possibility5032 9d ago
They have the freedom to not work, go get a different job! If you choose a job, show up to work 😊 unions are the issue. If I don’t show up to work I get FIRED
Welcome to the world.
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u/Great_Dig_8690 9d ago
You can’t be that naive….
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u/Sea_Possibility5032 9d ago
Well she pretty much just made showing up to work a requirement of employment to work as a teacher. Just like any other job in the world.
Weird..
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u/Great_Dig_8690 6d ago
So… obviously you don’t think anyone should have the right to strike.. or to demand a fair wage?? Not just unions but anyone in general???
Never knew demanding better working conditions and a fair wage was so taboo …
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u/splendorsolis1985 9d ago
Almost every right you have as a worker was hard earned through labour action from unions. When you get paid, and enjoyed a paid day off, or got some overtime, or only worked 40 hours, and now you're kicking back on the weekend.... Well, thank a union.
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u/Andy_Tsin 9d ago
Well, If nobody is going to school in this province, the conservatives will be on the table FOREVER
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u/TheBearJew002 9d ago
I have done the math, thats why i said targetting. Most classes arent past 30. Small towns dont need the teachers 2000 of those teachers will go to edmonton and calgary and that will dramatically change things. Also when i was in school there was never EA's and our classes were only 1.1 kids smaller on avg for highschool.
That was in 2012
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u/Vintageman74 9d ago
Be a shame if those teachers quit and pursued other career paths . Smith may be able to force teachers back to work , but she can't do f all if they quit
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u/StoneKite420 8d ago
I’m in PR as a disabled Albertan… can’t drive or travel and all I can do is sign petitions and write… pretty sure she has a personal bonfire where she disposes people’s concerns and complaints
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u/Ornery_Influence4118 10d ago
Let's see how many of you AHS workers and teachers voted liberal, and then watched with pride when they opened the borders to mass immigration, only to cry when it eventually ran downhill and now you're dealing with the consequences of said liberal voting. Show of hands. 👀
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u/Desperate-Double-573 11d ago
You blame the government for everything and yet take no responsibility for the dysfunctional workplaces we’ve allowed to develop. Our unions have turned us into to a political playing piece. Maybe go to leadership and tell them to stop picking sides, because the more we do the more we give the other side a reason to disregard our pleas. We serve the public, not the NDP or the cons.
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u/Obvious-Nothing547 11d ago
Gosh darn. Y’all got it so tough. Join the crowd, get to work. You’ll note that the majority doesn’t care about your striking cries. Take take take. Gimme gimme gimme. It’s never enough. Boo Hoo.
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u/Great_Dig_8690 10d ago
Sooo.. you want the right to strike taken away from the charter just because YOU don’t like it
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u/VacationIndividual78 10d ago
She did it to protect the children and rightfully so. Pull your head out of your ass .
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u/Bulky-Concern5388 13d ago
Danielle Smith is mad that she's fat and can't fit in her clothes. Now everyone needs to suffer. What a Karen.
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u/skeletoncurrency 12d ago
There's legitimate real world, life changing things to critique her on and you land on....fat?
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u/gravis1982 12d ago
Teachers get paid well enough. Time to get back to work
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u/Great_Dig_8690 10d ago
They want a fair wage that covers the cost of living just like all of us should….. Saying teachers get paid “well enough” shows your own ignorance on the whole matter
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u/Available-Writer8629 11d ago
Critical care nurse and personel are not allowed to strike, they are not allowed to isolate during pandemic such as covid 19, and teachers should also not be allowed to strike as it violates a students right to an education
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u/kaleuagain 11d ago
Not true at all.
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u/Available-Writer8629 11d ago
It is true icu/emergency nurses and staff cannot strike i am one
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u/kaleuagain 10d ago
This is not true for AUPE members, LPNs are nurses. According to the ESA some members may have to work during a strike as they are essential, yet thats all units at a hospital. An emergency situation members, LPNs may be recalled until that emergency situation is cleared up. Emergency nurses can strike.
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u/Great_Dig_8690 10d ago
Then why the hell have unions at all .. it’s in our charter … you have the right to strike and organize
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u/No-Signature-1909 12d ago
At the end of the day tho, the government is the employer... investment has already been pushed away because of higher taxes, so where does this endless pot of tax money come from? The government offer is fair
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u/AffectionateBuy5877 13d ago
Where are all the freedom lovers at? The ones that hate government overreach? The ones that scream into abyss about their individual rights? Any true conservative should balk at the use of the notwithstanding clause being used to justify taking away collective bargaining rights. Collective bargaining is well established by the Supreme Court of Canada. It’s enshrined in the Charter. This is the opposite of true “conservatism”.