Bargaining reaches impasse
The ATA’s Central Table Bargaining Committee (CTBC) met with the Teachers’ Employer Bargaining Committee (TEBA) for two days this week. Unfortunately, a settlement was not reached, and the parties have reached an impasse.
The government did not provide TEBA the enhanced mandate required for movement on the proposed salary and offered the same wage increase that was in the original mediator’s recommended terms of settlement, which included three per cent a year for four years and a unified salary grid. Teachers cannot accept a salary offer that does not attract and retain Alberta teachers by catching up and keeping up with inflation.
At the June bargaining dates, CTBC attempted to reach a negotiated agreement with TEBA by providing a comprehensive proposal. The items in the proposal attempted to address the concerns shared by members during the member information meetings (MIMs) around salary and learning conditions. Specifically, the proposal on salary maintained the retroactive pay for the 2024–25 school year, moved the implementation date for the unified grid to September 1, 2025, and added 1.5 per cent to the top of the grid. The proposal on learning conditions would have required hiring 1,000 teachers during each year of the agreement, for a total of 3,000 net new teachers by the end of the 2027–28 school year.
While TEBA lacked the mandate to accept the proposal, the parties still engaged in discussions about it. During this week’s negotiations, TEBA provided a comprehensive counterproposal to CTBC’s June proposal, in which TEBA, essentially, agreed to the teacher hiring proposal. However, TEBA remained immovable from the salary recommended in the mediator’s report.
CTBC was unable to agree to TEBA’s counterproposal in its entirety, even though it met the hiring proposal, because the proposed salary was not accepted or even countered. Teachers were clear during the MIMs about needing greater compensation.
The Provincial Executive Council met today to receive an update from CTBC and to consider next steps. An updated communications plan, including radio advertisements, digital billboards and social media posts, has been approved and will begin to roll out.
We understand that members want more specificity around what’s next and when a possible strike could occur. Unfortunately, that remains unknown. The goal of bargaining is always to reach a negotiated settlement; however, with the strike mandate provided by teachers in June, which expires on October 7, 2025, the clock is ticking on our ability to reach a deal without labour action.
CTBC remains committed to meeting with TEBA to reach an agreement; however, their salary mandate needs to increase.
Our unity is more important now than ever. Please continue to watch the ATA website and talk to your District Representative, or contact Teacher Employment Services for additional information.