he Alberta government has tabled to public school teachers — a key decision that could determine whether 51,000 educators walk off the job beginning Oct. 6, the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) has warned.
Balloting opened on Saturday and runs until 5 p.m. today, Sept. 29, with results expected later tonight.
The ATA has indicated that if the tentative deal is rejected by members, strike action could begin next Monday.
Under the terms of the offer, teachers would receive a 12 percent pay increase over four years, and the government would commit to hiring 3,000 additional teachers by 2028 to help curb rising class sizes.
A further pledge includes funding for 1,500 new educational assistant positions by August 2028, intended to support students and reduce burdens on teachers.
A notable addition to the contract is a clause covering the cost of COVID-19 vaccinations for teachers — a minor but symbolically significant concession.
ATA President Jason Schilling has cautioned that teachers are not taking the decision lightly: a strike would affect more than 700,000 students across Alberta.
On the other side, the provincial government has defended the offer as beneficial to the education system, emphasizing its focus on classroom investment and stability.
The broader backdrop to the vote reflects months of heated negotiations. Earlier in June, the ATA held a strike authorization vote, in which 94.5 percent of participating teachers supported the option to strike if necessary.
That gave the union legal authority to initiate labour action within 120 days, provided 72 hours’ notice is given.
Despite that authorization, the current agreement under vote is a product of more recent bargaining efforts. TEBA (Teachers’ Employer Bargaining Association), representing the government and school boards, reached a tentative agreement with the ATA on Sept. 24.
sturgeon.ab.ca
The ratification window set by the ATA covers Sept. 27–29.
Unless the vote passes tonight, Albertans may see a full province-wide teachers’ strike early next week that would interrupt regular schooling, extracurriculars, and transportation services.
The ballot results, expected later this evening, will decide whether the tentative agreement is adopted — or whether Alberta enters its latest chapter of education labour dispute.
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