Alberta teachers approve strike mandate, next steps to be determined

“We are expected to do more with less every year. The government needs to act now, because Alberta’s kids can’t wait. The future of public education—our future—depends on it.”

A strike is not necessarily imminent, he clarified.

The ATA’s provincial executive council will now determine next steps, but is scheduled to be back at the table with the Teachers’ Employer Bargaining Association on June 19 and 20.

Schilling said to only look back a decade ago, and Alberta was near the top for provincial expenditures per student, but has since slid to the bottom of the pack.

Finance Minister Nate Horner said Tuesday afternoon the government has tremendous respect for teachers, principals, system leaders and school divisions and that a recent mediator’s offer was accepted by other unions in Alberta.

“The rejected mediator’s recommendation included the same 12 per cent over four years general wage increase that has already been accepted by other unions and their members,” Horner said.

“In addition, the recommendation provided for a grid harmonization for teachers throughout the province. The grid harmonization would have resulted in up to a further five per cent wage increase, depending on the teachers’ current wage grid.

That offer, Horner said, also included increases of between three and six per cent in northern incentives and significant market adjustments for substitute teachers and a government commitment of more than $400 million in classroom improvements which would have started in the fall.

Statistics Canada data analyzed by the Alberta Teachers’ Association in February 2024 showed Alberta was spending $11,601 per student in the 2020/21 school year, with the average amongst all provinces at $13,332 per student.

A report by the Fraser Institute, released in 2023 and also using Statistics Canada data, showed similar rankings of provincial per student spending, but also showed Alberta had the highest rate of enrolment growth between 2012/13 and 2020/21, at 12.4 per cent. The next closest was Saskatchewan at 6.9 per cent.

That report also showed Alberta had the slowest rate of spending growth at just 2.4 per cent over the same span.

The Fraser Institute then reported in 2024 that three provinces saw declines in inflation-adjusted per-student spending — Alberta being the worst at 17.2 per cent. They note there Alberta went from third-highest per-student spending in 2012/13 to the lowest by the end of 2022.

“Members are saying we can’t do our jobs the way schools are funded right now,” added Schilling.

“They want to be in classrooms working with kids. It’s the unfortunate part of strikes; people don’t want to go on strike, but teachers aren’t willing to back down. They are united in their resolve. Teachers are willing to fight for public education in this province.”

He said the situation is causing students to slip through the cracks, as well as teachers burning out and leaving the profession.

Teachers have received combined increases of just six per cent over the last 12 years, noted Schilling.

Optimistically, he stated the belief there’s still time to pursue meaningful progress at the bargaining table.

But, he continued, public education in Alberta is “at a tipping point.”

“I understand where parents are coming from, and I empathize with them,” said Schilling, directly to parents who’ll be concerned about this news.

“They also need to know this is being done to support their kids who are coming to our schools. Teachers have been highlighting for years the lack of resources, the overcrowded classrooms, and the inability for us to meet students’ needs.”

by Josh Hall, Eli J. Ridder

Alberta teachers approve strike mandate, next steps to be determined

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