Teachers employed by the Parkland School Division have served notice to school trustees of their intention to take strike action commencing at midnight on Thursday, February 15.

The strike notice comes after a period of bargaining that began in February 2006 for a collective agreement for the 2006/07 school year.

Commenting on the notice of strike action, Robert Twerdoclib, president of the 550‑member Parkland Local of The Alberta Teachers’ Association, said that all attempts to date at achieving an agreement through bargaining and mediation have been unsuccessful. “Our teacher bargaining team, supported by members of Parkland Local, has made every effort to reach an agreement with the trustees,” he said, noting that Parkland teachers have stayed on the job for 119 days following the mid-October strike vote.

Twerdoclib said that teachers and trustees have agreed to return to bargaining today at 1500. “This unexpected meeting will provide an opportunity to resolve this dispute and, if we are successful in reaching an agreement, there will be no interruption of services to students in Parkland schools.” Twerdoclib will speak at a news conference at Barnett House this afternoon at 1600.

Parkland teachers provide educational services to more than 9,500 students in 22 schools located between Entwistle and Spruce Grove.

For more information, please contact Robert Twerdoclib at (780) 963-5898.

(members see also Memorandum to teachers 2007 02 12)