The province is hoping it can put a dent in its deficit by putting the squeeze on teachers' salaries.

Government officials are considering asking teachers to consider waiving their 4.3% raise next year in exchange for a reduced workload.

"I think it's going to be a hard sell to everybody because it's changing from the status quo in terms of education delivery to focusing on the kind of future that's a bit different," said Dave Hancock, Alberta Education Minister.

"The reaction has been generally cool, conservative. Teachers are willing to listen. Again, until we have a formal proposal, we're asking people to withhold judgment," said Dennis Theobald with the Alberta Teachers' Association.

Opposition politicians aren't withholding judgment – they're enraged, saying if the government wants to save money on salaries, it should look in the mirror.

About two years ago, ministers gave themselves a 30% raise.

"If they would tie this directly and say, ‘All right minister, are you willing to forego your 35% increase as a show of goodwill for teachers?' Then we'd actually have some credibility in talking," said Liberal education critic Harry Chase.

"They've lost credibility because the first action they took when they won the election in 2008 was to massively increase the premier's salary and the cabinet pay," said Wildrose Alliance Leader Danielle Smith.

"The problem when you do that and then turn around and ask your employee groups to trim and tighten their belts, you don't have a lot of credibility. I would say the government should show some leadership and rescind the pay increase from 2008 before asking the employees to do the same."

Smith also added the government has to do its research before signing these contracts. It got itself into this and should not be asking teachers to pay the price.

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation agrees in part. The federation is in favour of not only freezing teachers' salaries but rolling them back.

However, it admits that's a tough sell for this government.

"I think the government is being generous with their position of a wage freeze," said Scott Hennig, the federation's Alberta director.

"Despite that, don't get me wrong, the province has to look at MLAs' salaries and everyone else's salaries, I think they've really hurt their own bargaining position by giving themselves a 30% pay hike and not rolling it back."

The province says it won't force a wage freeze on teachers – it's simply presenting it as an option.

It says in exchange for the concession, teachers would also get a new, longer term contact that would guarantee them job security for the next several years.

If a new deal is drawn up, it's not expected for several months.