Information and Events Archive

In the interest of maintaining an up-to-date site, items  on this page have been moved from the Home page and archived with the most recent event at the top of the page.


Archive of Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions from the 2006 - 2007 School Year

April , 2007 - How much extra money will be deducted from my paycheque for benefit repayment?
Question: How do I get an idea of how much money will be deducted from by cheque to account for the unpaid benefits as a result of the strike?
Answer:  As you know, during the strike the Board continued to remit benefit premiums, bit teachers are respoinsible for the entire benefit premium for each day of strike.

Now that we have returned to work, the Board will deduct the cost from your paycheques in order to pay recoup the portion that it paid for teachers. 

We have agreed that instead of this money all coming from one paycheque, the Board will make deductions from 2 paycheques - April 50% and May 50% of this amount.  We anticipate that it will be between $250 and $300 each month. 

A closer calculation can be made by referring to a Payroll Voucher (i.e. cheque stub) from when you worked a complete month, like December or January.  Under the Deductions section, locate the amount under the Current Deductions - Employer section. This is the approximate amount to be repaid.  In April and May, 53.86% of this amount will be deducted.  (The 53.86% number is to account for the fact that we were on strike for slightly more days than one month - 21 working days.  In addition we must account for weekends because we pay for every calendar day, rather than every school day.)

e.g. for a five year max teacher with family deductions 
Employer Portion $501.18 x 0.5386 = $269.94 deducted from April cheque and again from May cheque.

March, 2007 Who is on the Voluntary Binding Arbitration panel?
Question:  I have read that the chair of the arbitration panel has been selected, but who are the other two members?
Answer: The arbitration panel will consist of three members: a chair, a selection by the ATA and a selection by Parkland School Board.  On Friday, March 29, 2007 the Local Office was informed of the arbitration panel, which will determine our next collective agreement.
Mr. Thomas A. B. Jolliffe, Q. C., from the Calgary law firm of Kelly & Kelly Barristers and Solicitors, will serve as Chair.
For the Alberta Teachers’ Association will be Mr. Murray McGown of McGown Johnson, Calgary.
Serving for PSD will be Mr. Ron Neuman, Q. C. of Edmonton.

Will I receive a pay cheque on Friday, March 23, 2007?
Question:
I am wondering what will happen to our regularly scheduled pay cheque on Friday, March 23, 2007. Will we be receiving our pay cheques (direct deposits)? How much should I expect to receive?

Answer: We have been assured by payroll at Parkland School Division that you will receive a portion of your pay cheque on Friday, March 23 equivalent to the days you've worked in the March pay period. Via email, the board issued the following statement,
"We are working towards processing your March pay cheque so that it can be deposited into your bank account on Friday March 23, 2007. Your pay cheque will show a reduction of thirteen days (13)."
This is for a full-time salary. Exactly how much this is depends upon your placement on the grid and the amount the deductions for such things as income tax.

For a very rough approximation of the amount you might expect - before deductions - you could try the following calculations.

Step 1 – Determine your annual gross salary from the Collective Agreement salary grid (the CA ending August 31, 2006 is still in effect). For example, 4 year maximum is $72660

Step 2 – Determine your monthly gross salary. Example - $72660 / 12 = $6055

Step 3 – Determine 1/200th of gross annual salary. Example - $72660 / 200 = $363.30

Step 4 – Determine deduction for 13 strike days in March. Example - $363.30 x 13 = $4722.90

Step 5 – Determine adjusted gross March salary. Example - $6055 – $4722.90 = $1332.10

This is the gross amount you can expect before deductions for income tax, CPP, EI, benefits, pension, etc.

March, 2007 - Is the Parkland strike the longest in Alberta history?
Question: 
I have heard that our 21 school day strike is the longest strike in Alberta teachers' history.  Is this true?
Answer:  No, but it is the longest strike in the Edmonton area.  The longest strike took place over 50 years ago - surpassing 40 days.  You can get more complete details of the history of strikes in Alberta from the chart.


March, 2007 - Are my benefits still being provided by ASEBP during the strike?
Question:
I went to my dentist for some work and the dentist would not put through payment on our plan because we are on strike.  Is ASEBP honoring our claims?  Am I still covered?
Answer:  Alberta School Employees' Benefits Plan is still honoring Parkland Teachers' claims.  You are still covered under the plan even though we are on strike.  If your provider submits a claim, it will be processed.  Your dentist may ask you to pay for the treatments, but you can then submit the claim for reimbursement. 

For the days we are on strike, the cost of premiums will be entirely paid by you - the teacher.   There will be an adjustment made to your paycheque to account for this.

March, 2007 Will I get paid for Spring Break even though we are on strike?
Question: 
What if the strike continues into Spring Break?  Will we get strike pay during Spring Break?
Answer:  There is no strike pay for Spring Breaks because there is no lost salary.  While teachers appear to be paid 1/12 of their annual salary each month, pay is actually calculated as 1/200th for each day of work.  Teachers never receive pay for Christmas, summer, spring or other holidays.
Strike pay is also paid on the basis of teaching/operational days to replace lost salary. Therefore, strike pay will only be paid for missed school days.
Ultimately, the School Board will be deducting 1/200th for each teaching/operational day of the strike.


March, 2007 - Should I attend a parent arranged meeting during the strike?
Question:  I have heard that the parents are meeting with three Deputy Ministers to discuss the Parkland Teachers' Strike (Sunday, March 11, 7:00 P.M. at the Pioneer Center in Spruce Grove).  Am I as a Parkland Teacher and a parent allowed to attend the meeting?

Answer: Teachers certainly may attend the meeting, however, be aware that emotions will be running high.  We recommend that you not attend.  If you do, remember that you are a teacher, and as such are under the Code of Conduct.  Please exercise caution if you choose to speak.

March, 2007 - What is the difference between a Dispute's Inquiry Board and Special Mediation?
Question:  I have heard the Board request a Disputes Inquiry Board (DIB) and the teachers ask for Special Mediation.  What is the difference?
Answer:  A Disputes Inquiry Board is called before a strike/lockout to stop the action.  Once a strike begins a DIB does not stop the strike - it continues.  A DIB at this stage typically will involve preconditions, such as: it must be requested by both parties, both parties can agree to stop the strike/lockout and return to work, and an agreement that both sides will abide by the recommendations.  This would be a problem for Parkland Teachers because neither the Negotiating Sub Comittee nor the Local can make that commitment on behalf of the members. A DIB must write recommendations and often they are given twenty days to complete the process.

With a Special Mediator the only pre-agreement is to agree to participate.  The Special Mediator may write recommendations.  A mediator is usually available within a day or two.

In both cases the teachers and the Board would have to ratify the agreement.  



You can change the world one child at a time: Children of Ecuador.Escuela Una de Octobre:

For the past two years, Parkland Teachers’ Local 10 has contributed financially to the Children Of Ecuador Fund. This local charity, steered by Parkland teacher David Oldham of Spruce Grove Composite High School, serves to enrich the lives and education of children in this South American country.  Future plans hope to see the funding of a new school.  Additional pictures that show the reality of schooling three years ago and changes as a result of recent construction can be found in our photo gallery.




Colin, Ross and Robert greet a former Memorial teacher at the trade fair.Our Local’s booth at the Tri-Municipal Trade Fair, April 13-15, 2007 was the place to be. Political Engagement Officer Marie Gauthier organized the booth at the TransAlta Tri-Leisure Centre in Spruce Grove. Over a dozen teachers volunteered to meet and greet a multitude of members of our community over the three day event. This years' attendance surpassed the 15 000 who attended last year.   






Parkland Teachers' PD Workshops:

Educators Helping Educators

ONE-DAY BOOK STUDY: SEVEN STEPS TO SUCCESSFUL WRITING BY GRAHAM FOSTER

Offices of Parkland Teachers' Local 10
5008 - 51 Avenue, Stony Plain
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
4:30 PM

This session will be facilitated by Woodhaven Middle School teacher Karen McAmmond, and will permit a generous dialogue about writing strategies. All participants will receive a copy of the book for their personal professional libraries. To register or to request more information, please call 963-5898.

DAILY PHYSICAL ACTIVITY: SOCIAL DANCE

Small Gym, Ecole Meridian Heights School
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
4:30 PM

This session will be facilitated by Seba Beach School teacher Lasha Koziol, and is designed to get your students up and dancing in Daily Physical Activity (DPA). Don't worry if you don't have a partner — we will all be dancing together! To register or to request more information, please call 963-5898.


Visitors

Candidate list for local elections note Evergreen Catholic School Board is not included   Election Day is Monday, October 15th, 2007

Members Only:  

PD Sessions on Offer from Parkland Local

Visitors  - Strike action in brief

  • March 20, 2007 News Release   After 21 school days, teachers and students will return to their classrooms and places of work on Tuesday morning, March 20th.The parties have agreed to a process of voluntary binding arbitration. The Voluntary Arbitration Report is expected some time in the spring or early fall.  The strike began Feb. 16, 2007.
  • Feb. 28 to March 21: Announcements, news and messages transferred from this page