Alberta Teachers Strike to Begin Oct. 6 After Contract Rejection

Alberta’s teachers will go on strike starting October 6 after an overwhelming 89.5 per cent of members voted against a proposed contract with the provincial government. The Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) said the agreement did not meet teachers’ needs, improve classroom conditions, or show adequate respect for educators.

ATA President Jason Schilling said, “The proposed agreement failed to meet the needs of teachers, failed to improve student classroom conditions in a concrete and meaningful way, and failed to show teachers the respect they deserve.”

The rejected contract had offered a 12-per-cent pay increase over four years and promised the hiring of 3,000 additional teachers to address class sizes. The agreement also included coverage of COVID-19 vaccine costs for teachers.

Teacher Participation and Reasons for Rejection

A total of 43,000 teachers participated in the online vote held from September 27 to 29, 2025. The ATA highlighted that classroom conditions are worsening and that a 12-per-cent pay raise was insufficient given the increasing workload and student complexities.

“Teachers are now taking action and standing united for an agreement that immediately addresses deteriorating conditions in classrooms across Alberta and gives them the pay increase they deserve,” Schilling added.

Over the past decade, teachers’ pay has risen by nearly six per cent, while promises of fair compensation in subsequent agreements have not been fully met, according to the ATA.

Political Reactions

Alberta’s New Democrat Shadow Minister of Education, Amanda Chapman, criticized the government’s offer, saying it insulted teachers and failed to improve classroom conditions. She called on Premier Danielle Smith and her United Conservative Party (UCP) government to negotiate in good faith and ensure teachers are treated fairly.

Government Response

In response to the vote, the President of Treasury Board and Minister of Finance, Nate Horner, expressed disappointment over the rejection. He highlighted that the ATA’s proposed deal included 3,000 new teachers, over 1,500 educational assistants, and a 12-per-cent wage increase over four years, with potential increases up to 17 per cent for many teachers.

Horner emphasized that Alberta teachers would have received the highest after-tax pay in western Canada and noted that the province added over 50,000 new students in the last two years, making these investments critical.

He also questioned the union’s understanding of its members’ needs, given two failed ratification votes. Horner assured that the government would continue prioritizing students and announce support for families affected by the strike.

Upcoming Government Update

Premier Danielle Smith, Minister Nate Horner, and Minister of Education and Childcare Demetrios Nicolaides will provide further updates on financial and educational support for families in the case of the strike. The announcement is scheduled for Tuesday, September 30, at 12 p.m. at the McDougall Centre in Calgary.

With the strike set to begin on October 6, parents and students across Alberta are preparing for disruptions in schools. The government and ATA continue to urge negotiations to resolve the standoff as quickly as possible.