Big raises for WSD teachers?

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Winnipeg School Division teachers have dropped to the lowest-paid in the city -- but probably not for long.

They could be trying to match the 4.82 per cent raise their formerly on-par counterparts in Louis Riel School Division negotiated for the current school year, which puts Louis Riel teachers at the top of every wage category.

And they could be trying to catch up to the vast majority of teachers' bargaining units across Manitoba, which have been negotiating extra cash of as much as $550 a year tagged on to the "standard" three per cent raises for which WSD teachers have been settling.

While it is tricky to calculate an average salary for teachers, many experienced teachers are a class 5 -- an undergraduate degree, plus an education degree -- who have maxed out on increments after 10 years experience. MTS says their pay ranges from $76,000 to about $79,000 this year.

Only Winnipeg, Interlake and Frontier school divisions have consistently settled for "just" three per cent in recent years and all three are without contracts.

Teachers in the province's largest division have been without a contract since June 30. WSD employs about one-sixth of all Manitoba teachers.

And while neither the division nor the union is talking publicly about bargaining, the Winnipeg Teachers Association's newsletter implies the WTA is looking to match the enormous contract signed by teachers in Louis Riel S.D.

"For a number of years we have kept pace in salary with the LRTA," WTA vice-president Joan Fransen, chairwoman of the bargaining committee, said in the newsletter. Fransen also pointed out to teachers that they've settled early in recent years, then other teachers got a better deal.

"Most of our recent settlements have occurred prior to our metro counterparts. They, in turn, have been able to better the salary component, leaving us as the lowest-paid teachers in the metro region," Fransen wrote.

Starting in 2004-2005, WTA members signed five straight deals for a three per cent increase -- the base wage increase that became the standard for teachers early in the decade.

But almost all other bargaining units did better in recent years and records posted on the Manitoba Teachers' Society website show Winnipeg and Louis Riel teachers were consistently behind their colleagues elsewhere in the city.

Education Minister Nancy Allan said there'll be no province-wide bargaining imposed. "Both the stakeholders are not in support of it," said Allan, pointing out the Manitoba School Boards Association adamantly supports local bargaining.

St. James-Assiniboia teachers just signed a two-year deal that adds $300 in cash each year. Pembina Trails has a contract expiring in June, which added from $250 to $400 per teacher to the basic three per cent this year and last.

River East Transcona teachers got 3.9 per cent one recent year, and Seven Oaks teachers got an additional $250 a year, twice. Then there's Seine River S.D. In the last six contracts, Seine River teachers had one year that gave them two phased-in raises of two per cent each time and twice got $500 in cash added to their three per cent.

And then there's the deal Louis Riel teachers signed for this current school year. It guarantees the teachers will get the top wage paid anywhere in the city in seven categories of qualifications and increments based on years of service before maxing out -- 70 wage levels.

MTS said the Louis Riel deal is worth 4.82 per cent this year.

WSD school board chairwoman Jackie Sneesby declined to discuss contract talks. She said there is no sign of an imminent settlement and there are no plans yet to seek arbitration.

Few school divisions in Manitoba have been settling for just three per cent in recent years.

Mountain View S.D. in Dauphin phases in $200 and $350 raises this year. Portage la Prairie is increasing teachers' pay by three per cent plus two phased-in raises of $250 apiece this year, after adding $400 last year.

nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca

More full-time teachers oversee fewer students

MANITOBA has added 136 full-time teachers in the last two years -- despite steadily declining enrolment in public schools.

Statistics compiled by the Manitoba Teachers' Society say Manitoba had 12,976 full-time equivalent teachers as of September, up by 136 over September of 2007.

MTS also estimates on its website that 15 per cent of teachers work part time.

Hiring in the handful of divisions with growth has far outpaced job losses in the vast majority of divisions inexorably losing students.

Winkler-based Garden Valley S.D. increased its faculty by 44 full-time equivalent positions, Brandon by 36, Seven Oaks by 32, Steinbach-area Hanover by 29 and Frontier by 28.

Winnipeg S.D. had the biggest job loss: 23 full-time positions, Louis Riel 19 and Mystery Lake in Thompson 16.

Provincial records show public school enrolment fell by 1,348 between September 2007 and September 2008.

While the 2009-2010 enrolment report will not be ready until February, the enrolment as of Sept. 30, 2008, showed 2,459 fewer kids in Grade 1 than in Grade 11, pointing to another significant drop in 2009-2010 enrolment.

MTS lists salary figures across Manitoba at www.mbteach.org/collective-bargaining/salarysettlements.html. The Manitoba School Boards Association also has contract data at www.mbschoolboards.ca/whatwedo/documents/Teacher%20Salary%20Settlements%20Update.pdf

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition December 29, 2009 B1