Alberta teachers reject contract offer, strike looms

Alberta teachers have voted against the province’s latest contract offer, setting the stage for a provincewide strike next week.

The Alberta Teachers’ Association announced the results on Monday evening, confirming that just short of 90 per cent of its members rejected the tentative agreement.

The union, representing 51,000 teachers across the province, had stated that if the deal is rejected, teachers would hit the picket lines on Oct. 6.

Union president Jason Schilling said the vote reflects deep concerns among teachers about the province’s commitment to long-term classroom investment and working conditions.

“Teachers have been told time and time again that the government will make it right next time. Well, next time is here,” said Schilling, adding that the union is still open to conversation with the government before the Oct. 6 deadline.

“We will need to have serious conversations about the things teachers need to see in their classrooms,” he said. “There has to be a bit of a reset.”

The proposed deal, which included a 12 per cent pay increase over four years and the hiring of 3,000 additional teachers to reduce class sizes, failed to sway the educators. A last-minute addition to cover the cost of COVID-19 vaccines for teachers also wasn’t enough to secure approval.

“I am disappointed that Alberta’s teachers have voted to reject the tentative agreement for a new four-year central agreement,” said Finance Minister Nate Horner in a statement. “It is now up to the union to determine its next steps.”

“With two failed ratification votes, I am left questioning whether the union fully understands what their members are seeking.”

The provincial government described the latest offer as strong and beneficial for Alberta’s education system.

Justice Minister Mickey Amery told the Calgary Herald over the weekend that the government would consider issuing a back-to-work order as a last resort.

Teachers were ordered back to work after nearly three weeks during the last provincewide strike in 2002, which involved more than 20,000 teachers. 

With files from The Canadian Press