Clarifying Alberta's Teachers' Negotiations

Today, a significant step was taken in Alberta regarding teachers' negotiations. The Alberta Labour Relations Board (LRB) held a resolution conference involving the Teachers' Employer Bargaining Association (TEBA) and the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA).

This conference addressed a complaint made by TEBA against the ATA concerning unfair labor practices. Thankfully, they reached a consent order, meaning both parties agreed to resolve the complaint amicably.

So, what’s next? The order highlighted three key issues still under discussion:

• The timeline for implementing the unified salary grid.
• The ATA’s request for a 1.5% long service allowance for teachers at the top of the salary grid.
• How the COVID-19 vaccination will be covered.

Importantly, none of these issues involve classroom complexity, class sizes, or student support, which the Alberta government is already tackling with plans to add 3,000 more teachers and invest $1.6 billion in Budget 2025 to accommodate diverse learning needs.

This order aims to clarify ongoing negotiations and help families and teachers understand the situation better. Stay tuned for updates as we continue to follow this important development!