By Ryan Pilon

Teachers take protests to MLA office

May 26, 2011 | 9:59 AM

It's the second day of strike action for teachers in Saskatchewan, and about 800 teachers from Prince Albert and the surrounding area held a rally outside MLA Darryl Hickie’s office on the 3000 block of Sherman Drive at about 10:30 a.m.

They marched there from the Art Hauser Centre, carrying signs and flags. Outside the office, chants of “teachers” and “five point five just won’t drive” filled the air, before Krammer began a presentation.

“We want to communicate our frustration at the lack of progress in provincial collective bargaining to the local MLA’s, because we feel it’s the government of Saskatchewan that has to step up to the plate, and offer us a contract that truly affirms the worth of teachers, and compensates us fairly,” said Randy Krammer, the president of the Prince Albert and Area Teacher’s Association.

Krammer said Hickie had been notified ahead of time that the rally would be taking place, and had been requested to be present. However, he was in Regina, and the teacher’s voiced their displeasure over his absence.

“Without a doubt teachers of Prince Albert and area are very disappointed,” said Krammer.
“They were really looking forward to dialoging with him, and sharing with him our concerns about this lack of progress in provincial bargaining.”

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Despite not being there to hear what the teachers had to say first hand, Hickie will still get the message, as the teachers left numerous letters at his office.

The teachers also held a rally at MLA Nadine Wilson’s office at 1:30 p.m., and Krammer said she was also not present.

“From my understanding, all Saskatchewan Party MLA’s across the province are declining invitations by teacher groups,” said Krammer.

After calls to both Hickie and Wilson, paNOW was called back by Donna Harpauer, the minister of education and provincial secretary, who said that is not true.

“That is not true. I know of MLA’s that have met with teachers in their constituencies. So I will say no, they have not been told that,” said Harpauer.

“That would be a choice of the different MLA’s. I, myself, have some meetings set up.”

The offices of Hickie and Wilson both said they were attending meetings out of town.

rpilon@panow.com