Alberta’s teachers moved closer to withdrawal of services in a number of locations in recent weeks, while at the same time launching a media campaign across the province. "The provincial government does not seem to be getting the message," said Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) President Larry Booi. "We have asked teachers to turn up the volume and increase the pressure, and they have certainly done so."

The ATA has embarked on a public information campaign for September, involving billboards in major centres and radio advertising throughout the province. The actions culminate in the door-to-door delivery of one million "information cards" by teachers in the final week of September. "The information cards and the campaign in general are an attempt to shine a spotlight on the provincial government, which has tried to pass the problems and the blame on to trustees and school boards in recent years," said Booi. "The trustees have been given insufficient funds to deal with the issues in public education. It’s time to put the blame where it belongs – on a provincial government that has refused to make the necessary investments in our schools."

The ATA’s campaign focuses on three key issues: Why are our classrooms underfunded? Why are we facing a teacher shortage? Why are our teachers undervalued? In each case, members of the public are encouraged to "Ask the Alberta government."

Negotiations in the ATA’s 52 active bargaining units are proceeding in a coordinated way, but at different rates. Medicine Hat Public teachers recently voted 98% in favor of a strike vote, while Edmonton Public’s 5,500 teachers have requested mediation services. Because of the inadequate funding given to school boards, said Booi, it will be hard for most boards to deal adequately with teachers’ concerns, and teachers expect tough bargaining. "If we are to avoid major disruptions, it is absolutely essential that the provincial government give additional funding to school boards, which is the reason for our public information campaign," he stated.

ATA representatives have been encouraged by the solidarity and involvement shown by the province’s 32,000 teachers in recent weeks, particularly in information meetings held by locals around the province. In the ATA’s Central West region, the seven locals held joint information meetings in two locations on Monday, September 17. Attendance exceeded all expectations, with over 1,000 teachers at the meeting in Red Deer and over 600 at Leduc. ATA District Representative Jere Geiger commented, "I’m delighted with the solidarity shown by teachers in the Central West area. The huge turnout and the assertive mood of our teachers at the meetings are a clear sign that Alberta’s teachers are demanding that their concerns be addressed."

ATA Communications Coordinator Donna Swiniarski said that the Central West meetings reflect the mood of teachers across the province: "I have worked in public education advocacy for the ATA since 1994, and I have never seen anything like the present level of concern and commitment that teachers are displaying throughout Alberta."