Photo from Alberta Teachers’ Association
Jason Schilling
President, Alberta Teachers Association
11010 142 Street NW
Edmonton AB T5N 2R1
Re: Alberta Teachers and the Democratic Right to Free Collective Bargaining
Dear Brother Schilling,
On behalf of the thousands of workers represented by the Confederation of Canadian Unions (CCU-CSC) across our country, we write to express our solidarity in opposing the government’s unprecedented decision to invoke the notwithstanding clause to force 51,000 Alberta teachers back to work and impose a new four-year contract that 90 percent of teachers have already voted to reject.
The decision of the Alberta United Conservative Party to invoke the not-withstanding clause represents a grave violation of fundamental democratic rights, threatens the integrity of the Public School system in Alberta, and sets a dangerous precedent for all working people in Alberta and across Canada. Public schools are the backbone of a democratic society, and it is vitally important that the teachers are given a fair chance to negotiate for a better system for everyone.
It is unacceptable for a Canadian Provincial government to unilaterally strip workers of their democratic right to negotiate a fair deal, and the CCU-CSC stands with you in this fight for fairness, human rights and a strong public school system.
Please feel free to reach out if we can provide any further assistance.
In Solidarity,
Mark Miller
Vice-President, Confederation of Canadian Unions
contact@ccu-csc.ca
ccu-csc.ca
