Teachers asked to vote on recommended settlement

Alberta teachers are being urged to vote on a proposed central table settlement following the release of the mediator’s report in the 2024 round of bargaining. The report, which includes all previously agreed-upon items between the Teachers’ Employer Bargaining Association (TEBA) and the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) Central Table Bargaining Committee (CTBC), outlines what the mediator believes to be the most realistic path to a settlement and the best possible outcome.

This proposed settlement reflects months of hard work and includes improvements that go beyond salary to support better teaching and learning conditions.

Central table bargaining began in early 2024, guided by feedback from teachers collected through a provincewide survey. That input helped shape the initial proposal that served as the starting point for negotiations with TEBA. Despite significant efforts at the table, the parties were unable to reach a full agreement on their own and required the assistance of a mediator. The mediator’s recommendations must now be voted on by members in a ratification process.

“This is an important decision that will impact every teacher in the province,” said CTBC chief negotiator Sean Brown. He added that the ATA has made a range of tools and resources, including the full mediator’s report and several FAQ documents, available online to support informed decision-making.

“We’ve developed materials to help members fully understand the implications of the mediator’s report,” Brown said. “I strongly encourage everyone to review the documents, attend a member information meeting, and most importantly, cast their vote.”

To help members assess the financial impact of the proposed settlement, the ATA has launched a salary calculation tool on its website. This tool allows teachers to see a personalized estimate of how the proposed changes would affect their pay based on their current grid placement.

A telephone town hall was held on April 3 and member information meetings (MIMS) have been taking place across the province since April 7. Information on the remaining MIMS is available on the ATA’s website. All eligible ATA members have been called upon to participate in this important process. 

With the mediator’s recommendation now in members’ hands, Brown encourages teachers to consider all aspects of the report, noting that it addresses more than just compensation. 

“One of the key elements includes $405 million in funding to begin to address the increasing challenges teachers are facing around class size and classroom complexity,” he said. “This proposed settlement reflects months of hard work and includes improvements that go beyond salary to support better teaching and learning conditions.”

ATA president Jason Schilling echoed Brown’s call for member engagement, urging teachers to take an active role in the process. 

“This is your collective agreement. It affects your salary, benefits and working conditions,” Schilling said. “Teachers need to be fully engaged in this process. That means talking with your colleagues, dispelling any misinformation that you see, reading through the available materials and making an informed decision when it’s time to vote.”

Voting on the mediator’s recommended settlement opens on May 2 and closes at 5 p.m. on May 5. The results will be announced on the ATA website on May 6. ❚