ATA back to bargaining table before strike action announced

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on June 12, 2025.

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The Alberta Teachers’ Association says its members will be meeting with the provincial government’s Teachers’ Employer Barginging Association next week and potentially again in August to discuss a new four-year collective agreement for Alberta educators following a recent vote that overwhelmingly supports strike action this September.

More than 94 per cent of more than 38,000 voted in favour of job action during a three-day vote that began June 5 allowing teachers to cast their ballots online and in person. The results were released on Tuesday, showing only a little more than 1,500 teachers voted against a strike.

“For too long, teachers have been propping up a system that is under-resourced and overburdened,” said Jason Schilling, ATA president. “We are expected to do more with less every year.”

According to the ATA, teachers are seeking wage increases that keep pace with inflation as well as support to deal with increasing classroom sizes and complexities.

Two meetings are scheduled next week, June 19 and 20, and more dates could be released for August if needed.

The two sides have 120 days to come to a resolution, meaning if an agreement is not reached over the summer, the start of the school year could be impacted in September.

“The government needs to act now, because Alberta’s kids can’t wait,” said Schilling. “The future of public education, our future, depends on it.”

In May the ATA rejected a new collective agreement that included a general wage increase of three per cent per year, as well as $400 million in funding to help teachers deal with classroom complexities.

“Alberta’s government has tremendous respect for teachers, principals, system leaders and school divisions for their ongoing hard work inspiring and guiding students,” Finance Minister Nate said in a recent statement.

Any strike action would require an advanced notice of 72 hours.

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