KRIS SIMS: Albertans can’t afford $2B more for teacher union demands

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Albertans cannot afford to spend an additional $2 billion to meet teachers' union demands during this strike.

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The Alberta government says the Alberta Teachers Association wants an additional $2 billion.

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That would be more than the $2.6 billion the government has committed to improving teachers over four years.

The interest on this additional borrowed money alone would be enough to pay the salaries of 1,000 teachers.

A big request from Albertans

This is unfair to hardworking Albertans.

The province's debt will be $84.3 billion this year.

The taxpayers won't be able to afford it if the government gives in to this union's demand, backs up the money truck, and sprays more money with fire hoses on this big government union.

The government has already increased education funding by 33% from 2021-22, and it's time for Alberta Premier Danielle Smith to tell these union bosses: “Enough is enough.”

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Even with inflation and student numbers, the provincial government is still spending more on education since Smith took over as premier.

Let's look at what the teachers union rejected.

The government offered Alberta teachers a 12% raise over four years, and hired 3,000 more teachers and 1,500 more teaching assistants to help in the classrooms. Some teachers will receive a 17% salary increase due to changes in the salary schedule.

If teachers accepted the offer, the government says it would make them the highest-paid teachers in Western Canada.

New teachers would start at $71,000 per year, while teachers with seven years of experience would earn more than $100,000.

The province also previously committed to spending $8.6 billion to build more than 100 new schools across Alberta.

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But the teachers union rejected the contract proposal.

And now it is demanding $2,000,000,000 more than the government has already offered.

Alberta teachers are paid well and have a lot of free time.

For example, Red Deer High School lists 189 school days for teachers, including 13 “staff training” days, all of which coincide with holidays.

Not counting these 13 days of professional development, school teachers must be in the classroom with students for 176 days.

In the typical working world, there are about 240 working days, not counting holidays and vacations.

Teachers also receive benefits, a pension and strong job security.

Compare this work situation to being a police officer, paramedic, or carpenter in the winter, and teachers should count their gold star stickers.

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The provincial government's offer was more than fair, and the Taxpayers' Federation would have told Smith it was too generous.

Teachers are now demanding $2 billion more than the $2.6 billion the government has already offered them.

These additional costs will be the money borrowed plus interest.

If the Alberta government gave in to the union's demands and borrowed $2 billion at 4%, it would cost taxpayers about $80 million in extra interest per year.

With that kind of money it would be possible to pay the salaries of about 1,000 teachers.

Students who are currently locked out of classes will have to pay that money back when they return to work.

Teachers may want to consider this while they are not working and receiving strike pay from their union.

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Parents do the right thing

Smith did the right thing when she announced that parents would be reimbursed for this strike. Parents of students under the age of 12 who are barred from attending classes will be paid $30 per student missed per day for the duration of the strike. Parents deserve redress if their children do not receive the education that teachers pay for.

There are simple facts to remember during this strike: More money in that contract means more debt or higher taxes.

Taxpayers cannot afford this. So Smith needs to dig her heels in and tell that big state teachers union to get to work.

Chris Sims is the Alberta Director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

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