Classes continued in Buffalo Trail Regional Division schools on Friday morning, October 20 because of Alberta government intervention.

The school division had planned to lock-out teachers that day in a labour dispute.

Teachers had earlier voted in favour of taking strike action.

The school division wants a contract signed for five years but the teachers are arguing against that.

A one-person disputes inquiry board has been appointed by the Alberta government.

Alberta Human Resources and Employment Minister Clint Dunford told The News in a telephone interview on Friday afternoon, October 20 from his office in Lethbridge that neither side had asked him to intervene.

“We intervened because I’m responsible for the innocent third party which is the school children—and indirectly their parents.”

Dunford said that the disputes inquiry board will provide both parties with the time they need to reflect on their position, clarify the issues and reach an agreement so that these students can continue their education. “We encourage the parties to continue to work with the mediator to resolve their dispute.”
David Jones, an Edmonton lawyer with experience as both an arbitrator and mediator is the one-man disputes inquiry board.

Establishment of the disputes inquiry board is a provision of the Labour Relations Code that is designed to investigate matters in a dispute so a settlement can be reached.

If the disputes inquiry board is unable to get a settlement within 20 days of being established it will make a recommendation to the minister who then sends the recommendations to both parties. If both parties accept the recommendations, they are binding.


Dunford added that if the teachers call him back and reject the recommendations or don’t call him back then he would have the Labour Relations Board conduct a secret ballot of all the teachers involved. Similarly if the board does likewise individual trustees would be polled in a secret ballot.

If agreement is still not reached then the situation will revert back to where it was before the ministerial intervention: a strike notice or possible lock out situation.

Because the disputes inquiry board was created before a proposed strike or lockout began, no job action can occur until the board’s process is complete and after the minister notifies the parties of the board’s recommendations.

Jim Smith, chair of the teacher’s economic policy committee said he has mixed feelings about the disputes inquiry process. “Our teachers are pleased that the education of our students will not be affected in the immediate future. We are disappointed however that a local resolution to this dispute could not be achieved. Hopefully, Mr. Jones will understand the difficulties teachers have faced bargaining with the present school trustees.”

Chairman of the school division, Brent Romanchuk could not be reached at press time for comment.

Provost Public School principal Bob Hawriliuk said on Friday, October 20 that all teachers reported for work that morning and approximately 90 percent of the students showed up. There are about 460 students at that school.

There are approximately 27 schools with just over 200 teachers and 4,600 students in Buffalo Trail Regional Division.