Update
We are now taking pre-orders for EC Teachers Red for Ed toques and masks! These toques are light weight and made from 100% acrylic making it the perfect item to wear all year round! Pre-order today and show your support for RED FOR ED AB!
All payments must be made in full. Once the toques and masks are in, they will be sent to your school. PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR SCHOOL NAME WITH YOUR ORDER. Contact Sandra.Haltiner@ecteachers.ca with any questions!
Background
Originating in the United States in 2018, Red for Ed is a grassroots movement in support of public education that is gaining momentum throughout Canada, including Alberta.
The “Red for Ed” campaign is a grassroots movement advocating for the proper funding of public education, smaller class sizes and equitable salary increases for teachers. The campaign originated in 2018 and gained momentum during a series of contentious labour actions by U.S. education workers and the National Education Association (NEA). The strikes were based on pay and deteriorating working conditions, and teachers would often wear red shirts to demonstrate their solidarity. Many believe the colour choice represents school budgets being “in the red.”
The wearing of red soon became a symbol of advocacy for all teachers and education workers facing these challenges. Supporters were urged to wear red every Wednesday.
The campaign soon crossed the border into Canada when Ontario’s Ford government began pushing through changes that would negatively impact classrooms. The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (EFTO) embraced the movement and asked supporters to wear red on Fridays. B.C. teachers soon joined the battle after their provincial government balanced the books at the cost of public education. A 2019 B.C. provincial budget shortfall of $84.17 million spawned their “Red for BC Ed” movement.
This fall, after the provincial government released a budget that included a $275 million shortfall in education, Alberta teachers started joining the crusade with the #Red4EdAB campaign.
The campaign, which involves wearing red on Fridays, aims to send a message to the UCP government that Albertans deserve a fully funded public education system, smaller class sizes and equitable salary increases for teachers.
Contest Information
The @ectlocal54 wants to see all of you who proudly wear RED on Fridays to show your support of this campaign and a properly funded Public Catholic Education System! So, it is EC Teachers Local 54 CONTEST TIME!
To enter you must do the following:
- Post a picture of you wearing Red on Fridays on your feed.
- Tag us in that post.
- Share THIS post on your feed.
- And DM us your photo!
Each week, the Local will give out prizes of Red ECT T-shirts, swag, gift cards and MORE! We can’t wait to show off your #RedforEdAB support!
Contest ends on June 1, 2021. Winners will be selected via random draw. Good luck to all those who enter! (Winners are limited to one win only)