Palliser teachers have ratified a mediator’s recommended terms of settlement to conclude local bargaining with Palliser School Division. At a virtual meeting held Monday evening, teachers voted 64 per cent in favour of the recommendations, thereby avoiding the need for any labour action.
“This was a challenging and protracted round of bargaining. We are relieved that an agreement could be concluded without interruption to schools, but the school division has some work to do to repair relations with its teachers. The local is prepared to work collaboratively with the board towards this.”
—Natalie Townshend, Palliser ATA local president
The Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) has been advised that the employer has also ratified the mediator’s recommended terms for settlement.
Palliser was the last of 61 school divisions to reach agreement for the current term of bargaining, which extends back to September 2020.
Collective bargaining for teachers in Alberta is a two-phase process where matters of significant cost and broad impact are negotiated at a central table, followed by local negotiations between individual school divisions and ATA bargaining units on other more locally specific matters.
The ATA is the professional association of teachers in Alberta and acts as the bargaining agent for all teachers employed in public, separate and francophone school divisions. The Palliser School Division employs approximately 700 contracted and substitute teachers in public schools in Coalhurst, Coaldale, Picture Butte, Vulcan and surrounding areas, as well as 17 Hutterian colony schools and 10 alternative schools in Calgary.
For more information or to arrange an interview, contact Natalie Townshend at 403-360-6337.