2 hours ago
Swift News
The president of the Alberta Teachers' Association says its bargaining team asked the provincial government if it can fund class size recommendations issued in 2003 following the province's last major teachers' strike.
ATA president Jason Schilling said on Alberta at Noon Wednesday that the province's public, Catholic and francophone school divisions would need to hire more than 5,000 teachers to reach the recommended pupil-teacher ratios in that report.
"We're still trying to see if government would move on those numbers," Schilling said on the radio program. "But obviously, it's something that is not of their interest."
Schilling made the comments as 51,000 teachers are poised to go on strike on Monday.
Schilling and Finance Minister Nate Horner said in separate interviews on Alberta at Noon Wednesday that further talks between the teachers' association and employers are unlikely before Monday.
Horner also said there are no plans to reconvene the legislature earlier than scheduled to impose back-to-work legislation on educators.
