Edmonton Teachers Approve Strike Vote After Failed Settlement Proposal

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A significant majority of teachers affiliated with Edmonton Public Schools have cast their vote approving the Alberta Teacher’s Association (ATA) to pursue a strike vote regulated by the government. This decision, affirming the potential for industrial action, was made on a Sunday following the refusal of a proposed settlement intended to mediate local negotiations.

The ATA reports that a considerable proportion, 91 per cent, of the teachers in attendance at the Sunday meeting expressed negative sentiment towards suggestions offered by the mediator. This outpouring of support for the bargaining team, reflected in the voting turnout, delivers a powerful message to the school division regarding the discontent among the teacher populace, stated Heather Quinn, the representative of Edmonton Public Teachers’ Local No. 37.


Quinn expressed dissatisfaction with the recommendations of the mediator, stating that they fell short of providing substantial refinements for teachers managing online classes or those working during summer and night school sessions. This approach by the school division, treating different facets of the teaching role with less respect, was deemed disrespectable by the teacher’s community.

Despite the unanimous call for a potential strike, Quinn maintains that educators are optimistic about reaching a resolution through negotiation. The primary focus continues to be returning to the discussion table for spearheading further improvements, she assured. An immediate strike vote has not been planned or scheduled and would only be feasible after a minimum two-week period following the mediator’s official withdrawal from the disagreement, as per ATA.

The Public School Teachers of Edmonton have been continuing their service devoid of a ratified collective agreement since September of last year, according to the ATA. The Edmonton Public Schools houses approximately 7,000 contracted teachers and substitutes. The school board’s views on this development are yet to be disclosed.