In a powerful show of unity, Alberta teachers voted overwhelmingly in favour of authorizing a strike vote, with 99 per cent of ballots cast supporting the move. Nearly 38,000 teachers participated in the online vote conducted by the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) from May 22 to 26.
The vote followed teachers’ rejection of a mediator’s report, marking a critical turning point in an ongoing central table bargaining round that began earlier this year. The result sends an unmistakable signal to the provincial government and the Teachers’ Employer Bargaining Association (TEBA).
“With 99 per cent support to take a strike vote, Alberta teachers are speaking with one voice,” said Sean Brown, the ATA’s chief negotiator. “This is not just about wages—it’s about respect, resources and the future of public education. Teachers have been carrying the load for a system that’s been neglected for too long, and they’re saying clearly: enough is enough. It’s time for real action and real support.”
The bargaining process, which started in early 2024, was shaped by extensive teacher input collected through a provincewide survey. When discussions stalled in the fall over high-impact issues involving salaries and classroom complexity, both parties agreed to bring in a mediator, whose recommended terms of settlement were brought forward to members this spring.
Teachers voted down the mediator’s recommendation, as it failed to produce a resolution that addressed teachers’ core concerns: increasingly crowded and complex classrooms, lack of meaningful wage increases, and the need to attract and retain teachers over the long term.
“Teachers are standing united in demanding respect and recognition for the challenges they experience in today’s classrooms,” said ATA president Jason Schilling. “Settling for anything less than tangible solutions will not be tolerated.”
The next step is a strike vote supervised by the Alberta Labour Relations Board. Teachers were set to cast their ballots online or in person from June 5 to 8, with results expected to be posted on the ATA website on June 11 (unless an objection is filed, which would lead to a delay). ❚
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