Teachers will move next to a strike authorization vote. Syda Productions/Dreamstime

By Olivia Thorington

EDUCATION

Alberta teachers edge closer to labour action after rejecting mediator proposals

May 6, 2025 | 2:45 PM

Alberta’s public educators are one step closer to potential labour action after voting to reject a mediator’s recommendations for a new deal with the province.

Jason Schilling, president of the Alberta Teachers’ Association, said Tuesday there remains vast differences between what the teachers want and what the Alberta government is offering.

That’s why 62 per cent of teachers voted to reject the mediator’s recommendations for a collective agreement between teachers and the school boards, said Schilling as he revealed the results Tuesday.

The association said nearly 36,000 members of the association voted out of some 51,000 teachers, a record-breaking voter turnout. Teachers voted online between May 2 and 5.

Negotiations for a new contract between teachers and the province entered into mediation in January.

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“I’m not surprised to find ourselves here today,” Schilling said.

The result triggers a two-week cooling off period for teachers to meet and discuss next steps. After that, a strike authorization vote will be held ahead of a formal strike vote.

If teachers back a strike, they will have 120 days to initiate the labour disruption. That could mean job action as the school year gets underway in September.

“It is very possible that we’ll see job action by teachers in the future,” Schilling said.

Alberta’s finance minister Nate Horner said he was disappointed the teachers rejected the mediator’s recommendation for a four-year central agreement.

The deal would have provided $405 million in classroom improvements — that teachers would have input on — and start with an initial $125 million investment in the next school year.

It included a 12 per cent general wage increase over the four years and salary increases based on a new common pay grid for all Alberta teachers, officials said.

Horner said he hopes representatives return to negotiations soon.

“I hope the ATA will soon return to the bargaining table so that we can continue to work towards the best deal for students, families and parents,” Horner said in a statement.

— With files from Lethbridge News Now