Deadline looms for Alberta teachers to approve deal

A deadline is fast approaching for Alberta teachers to approve the tentative deal reached between theirunion and the province.

Education Minister Jeff Johnson said Friday that he will spendsome timebefore the deadline onMonday trying to get the opposing voices to support the deal.

The deal needs to be unanimously approved by all 62 of Alberta's school districts and union locals.

"After three years of work and after a tentative deal, and after you have 95 per cent of those involved supporting it, do parents and Albertans want us to let this deal fail?" says Johnson.

"I don't think they do and we're convinced that it's the right thing to do to make sure that it succeeds."

Boards, unions split on approval

The tentative four-year deal calls for a three-year wage freeze, followed by a two per cent increase in 2015 and a one per cent cash bonus in the fourth year.

Rocky View School District which represents schools in rural areas surrounding Calgaryvoted to support it on Wednesday, andCalgary public teachers also supported the dealearlier this month.

But others have rejected it,including the Calgary Board of Education, theEdmonton Public School Board,the Elk Island public boardin Sherwood Parkand the St. Alberta public board.

Johnson says if the deal is not approved the government will be looking at alternative methods of implementingitincluding imposing the deal through legislation or even firing the dissenting school boards.

Alberta's teachers have been without a contract since August.