Schreiner responds to ongoing contract talks with teachers

October 18, 2019

The Education Minister should not be forcing a choice between funding for classrooms and funding to fairly compensate teachers.

Let’s get our priorities straight.

Yesterday we learned that the province is giving top bureaucrats a 14% salary increase, with performance bonuses, while we’re also subsidizing electricity to the tune of $4.2 billion per year with the UnFair Hydro Plan.

This is money that should be directed to health care, education and other core public services.

I hope all sides can get these negotiations back on track to strike a fair deal for teachers and to keep students in school.

That means the government must start listening to teachers’ serious concerns about larger class sizes and 10,000 fewer positions.

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