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ATA News
ATA serves strike notice, parties continue to meet
Bargaining update
After years of underfunding, stalled wages and crowded classrooms, Alberta teachers are ready to act if necessary.
On September 10, the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) announced it would serve official strike notice, with job action set to begin on October 6, 2025, if a negotiated settlement is not reached.
This announcement followed a meeting of the Provincial Executive Council (PEC), held on September 9, who have been hearing a clear message from the field: teachers are frustrated, united and determined to stand together for a fair deal.
“The government’s offer simply didn’t cut it,” said ATA president Jason Schilling. “It did not reflect the essential work we do or the challenges we face in the classroom every single day.”
When the parties met at the end of August, TEBA agreed with the position put forward by CTBC in June regarding the hiring of 3,000 additional teachers beyond what was already budgeted and in addition to the number needed to address attrition; however, TEBA remained firm on the salary package that was consistent with the mediator’s recommendations and had been rejected by teachers. Reflecting on the proposed salary increase, Schilling commented that this also follows a decade where wages have only increased by 5.75 per cent, while the cost of living has continued to rise.
“Teachers are not unreasonable,” said Schilling. “We are seeking compensation that makes up for lost inflation, keeps pace with current inflation, reflects our increased workload and helps to retain and attract new teachers to the profession.”
The ATA delivered its latest proposal to TEBA in good faith to move negotiations forward, he added.
“Teachers are ready to settle this. We want to teach, not strike,” said Schilling.
On September 15, the Government of Alberta filed a complaint with the Alberta Labour Relations Board (ALRB), alleging bad faith bargaining by the ATA. The complaint targets a line in a members-only resource that stated the government hadn’t given TEBA the authority to bargain on key classroom issues. As required by law, notices from the ALRB were posted in schools.
“This complaint was an attempt to silence teachers and deflect from the real issues,” said Schilling.
On September 18, the ATA and TEBA attended a resolution conference at the ALRB to address the complaint. The meeting resulted in the ALRB issuing a consent order that acknowledged that the two parties are committed to finding a negotiated settlement and confirmed the bargaining items left for resolution from CTBC’s June proposal. The Association was invited to meet with TEBA on September 19 to discuss the latest proposal from the ATA and attempt to chart a path forward.
For the most up-to-date information on bargaining, members are encouraged to visit the ATA website and sign up to receive Members’ Update emails (using a nonemployer email address).
