A new collective agreement is currently being negotiated centrally at the provincial level between the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) and the Teachers’ Employer Bargaining Association (TEBA), which represents the Government of Alberta and all school divisions.
Like all other school divisions in Alberta, East Central Alberta Catholic Schools is not directly involved in the central process.
We value the essential role that teachers and all staff play in our school communities. Our Division also respects the collective bargaining process, and we remain hopeful that an agreement can be reached without disruption to teaching and learning.
What's Happening Now
On September 10, 2025, the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) announced that teachers could begin job action on October 6, 2025, if a new agreement with the province was not reached. At that time, no formal strike notice had been issued, and the ATA had not specified what form the job action might take, while families were assured that schools would remain open and updates would be provided. On September 12, 2025, the ATA formally notified the Teachers’ Employer Bargaining Association (TEBA) that a strike will begin on October 6, 2025, at all buildings owned or occupied by employers as defined in the Public Education Collective Bargaining Act where bargaining unit employees work. This means a legal strike is now scheduled, though negotiations could still prevent it if an agreement is reached before the deadline.
Our Role in the Bargaining Process
In Alberta, teacher bargaining is currently happening centrally at the provincial level. It is a process between:
- The Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA): representing Alberta’s teachers, and
- The Teachers’ Employer Bargaining Association (TEBA): representing the Government of Alberta and all public, separate, and Francophone school divisions.
A central bargaining process means that items such as teacher salaries and benefits are determined through the provincial collective agreement, rather than through individual school boards. Local bargaining can only begin once this process has been completed.
Timeline
October 14: ATA and TEBA return to the bargaining table. Negotiations between the two parties will resume, with the assistance of a Mediator.
October 9: TEBA served the ATA with a lock out notice. Lockout takes effect on October 9, 2025 at 1:00 pm.
October 6: Teachers go on strike.
September 29: ATA Vote Outcome: Possible Strike Action - The Alberta Teachers' Association (ATA) has confirmed that members voted against ratifying the Memorandum of Agreement with the Teachers' Employer Bargaining Association (TEBA). Because the agreement was not ratified, the strike notice remains in effect. Families and staff should prepare for the possibility of a strike beginning Monday, October 6.
September 27-29: ATA ratification process for the Memorandum of Agreement.
September 24: TEBA and ATA have reached a Memorandum of Agreement. Strike notice remains in effect.
September 12: The ATA concluded a strike vote and announced the strike will commence on October 6, 2025.
August 2024: The collective agreement between the Alberta Teachers' Association (ATA) and the Teachers' Employer Bargaining Association (TEBA) expired.
January 2025: Negotiations between the ATA and TEBA went to mediation.
Late March 2025: A mediator issued a set of recommended settlement terms.
May 2-5, 2025: The ATA conducted a vote among its members on the mediator's recommendations.
May 6, 2025: The ATA announced that its members (62% of nearly 36,000 voters) rejected the mediator's recommendations. This initiated a 14-day cooling-off period.
May 30, 2025: Strike Authorization Vote takes place.
June 5-8, 2025: The ATA held a formal strike vote, following the rejection of the mediator's recommendations. Strike Vote. 95% (36,862 teachers) voted in favour of authorizing strike action. Strike can happen in the next 120 days (October 11, 2025 with notice coming on Oct. 8) with 72-hours notice.
Throughout June and August 2025: The Central Table Bargaining Committee (CTBC) has scheduled further meetings with TEBA to continue negotiations. A number of bargaining sessions between ATA and TEBA have occurred, with the next scheduled sessions are Aug 25/26.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are schools open?
Yes. All ECACS schools remain open, and classes are continuing as usual.
Has a strike been called?
No. While teachers have voted in favour of strike action, no job action has been announced. The ATA must give 72 hours’ notice before any action begins.
What could job action look like?
Job action could include work-to-rule (limiting duties outside of school hours), rotating strikes (cancelling classes on certain days), or a full strike (cancelling all classes).
How will families be informed of any changes?
We will share updates through BrightArrow and our website.
How should families prepare in case of a strike?
While no job action has been announced, families should begin planning in case a full strike occurs. If the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) moves ahead with a province-wide withdrawal of services, there will be no classes, no online learning, and students will not attend school. East Central Catholic Schools will receive 72 hours' notice before any job action begins. We encourage all families to consider backup arrangements for childcare and daily routines.