Alberta Teachers’ Association Ends Negotiations Ahead of School Year

As the new school year approaches, the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) and the Teachers’ Employer Bargaining Association (TEBA) have concluded formal negotiations. The Calgary Board of Education (CBE) remains on track for a start date of September 2, 2023, despite the breakdown in talks. CBE Chief Superintendent Joanne Pitman communicated the board’s commitment to keeping families informed, emphasizing that they are prepared for the upcoming academic year.

In a statement shared with CBE families following an August 29 press conference, Pitman expressed optimism for the school year. She noted that the CBE is dedicated to providing up-to-date information via its labour action web page. The Calgary Catholic School District did not respond to inquiries regarding the situation.

ATA President Jason Schilling indicated that a strike is unlikely before schools open across the province, as a 72-hour notice is required for any job action. The latest offer presented to the ATA included plans to hire 1,000 teachers annually for the next three years and a 12 percent salary increase over four years. This proposal, which Nate Horner, the Minister of Finance, stated was initially offered in June, has since been rejected by the ATA.

Schilling highlighted that while some aspects of the offer were aligned with previous discussions, several key components were overlooked. “You can’t just fix half the problem; you need to fix the entire problem,” Schilling remarked, noting that previous proposals contained critical elements that the government failed to address in recent negotiations. He emphasized the necessity for a comprehensive resolution to the challenges faced by teachers.

From TEBA’s perspective, Horner mentioned that the offer relied heavily on comparative data from provinces west of Ontario. He asserted that if accepted, the proposal would bring Alberta’s teachers in line with market values. “We don’t want labor unrest; we want kids in schools,” he stated, adding that he does not anticipate changes to the offer as the data supports its validity.

The ATA, however, argues that the current offer does not account for the salary erosion caused by inflation. Schilling pointed out disparities between Alberta teachers’ salaries and those of their counterparts in other provinces, citing that teachers in other regions have received pay increases that exceed those in Alberta over the last decade. “We need to have a serious conversation with the government willing to look and understand how they value and respect Alberta’s teachers,” he asserted.

Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides stated that the ATA proposed conditions that would reduce the annual hiring of teachers in exchange for higher individual salaries. “They’ve said that we need to hire more teachers, and we’ve agreed to that. Now, however, they’re saying something different,” Nicolaides said. He expressed a desire for clarity on the ATA’s expectations.

Schilling contended that the notion of trading off increased salary for fewer hires was never discussed during negotiations. He refrained from specifying the exact salary adjustments the ATA is seeking, stating that such discussions are best held at the negotiation table rather than in the media. “It’s disingenuous to say that we only care about wages at this point when we have been discussing classroom sizes, complexity, benefits, and other crucial factors,” he added.

As the September start date approaches, the outcome of these negotiations remains uncertain, leaving many educators and families awaiting further developments. The situation highlights ongoing challenges within the education sector, emphasizing the need for constructive dialogue between the ATA and the provincial government.