Teachers across Alberta are casting ballots this weekend in a pivotal vote on whether to move forward with strike action.
The Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) began the formal strike vote on Thursday. Voting will continue until Sunday, June 8, following a decisive rejection last month of a proposed settlement from a government-appointed mediator. Nearly 99 per cent of ATA members had previously authorized strike action if necessary.
Key concerns driving the dispute include overcrowded classrooms, stagnant wages, and insufficient support for students with complex needs. The ATA says teachers are pushing for fairer compensation and improved working conditions to ensure high-quality education.
“Alberta teachers have the power to change the narrative of the least,” one teacher said in a video posted to the ATA’s official YouTube channel. “We have already demonstrated that power by overwhelmingly voting no to the mediator's recommended terms of settlement. Elbows up, teachers — we're about to go into the corners with a wily opponent to fight for the right to serve our students without sacrificing ourselves. It’s time to speak as one. It’s time to be united.”
If a majority votes in favour, the ATA would be legally permitted to issue a 72-hour strike notice — a step that could be taken anytime within the next 120 days.
More updates will be provided once the results of the vote are confirmed.
