Edmonton (Rajeev Sharma): Alberta’s Minister of Finance and President of the Treasury Board, Nate Horner, has provided a public update on the status of ongoing negotiations between the Teachers’ Employer Bargaining Association (TEBA) and the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA).
In a statement released Friday, Minister Horner confirmed that the two parties met earlier in the day at a resolution conference convened by the Alberta Labour Relations Board (LRB) to address an unfair labour practice complaint filed by TEBA against the ATA.
Following the meeting, the LRB issued a consent order, signaling an agreement between both sides to resolve the complaint and clarify the remaining points of contention in their collective bargaining discussions.
Three Issues Still on the Table
According to Minister Horner, the consent order has helped define the three key items still under negotiation:
- Timing for the implementation of the unified salary grid for teachers;
- ATA’s proposal for an annual 1.5% long service allowance for educators at the top step of the grid;
- Provisions related to COVID-19 vaccination coverage.
“These are the only remaining issues. The consent order confirms that matters such as classroom complexity, class size, or student support are not part of the current bargaining discussions,” Horner emphasized.
Government Points to Classroom Investments
Minister Horner also highlighted that concerns surrounding classroom environments—frequently raised by educators and parents—have been addressed outside the bargaining table.
“Alberta’s government has already proposed a significant investment in classrooms through our current offer, which includes hiring 3,000 additional teachers,” he said.
He further pointed to Budget 2025, which allocates $1.6 billion to support students with diverse learning needs, including $53 million specifically earmarked for classroom complexity grants.
Transparency for Families and Teachers
In concluding his statement, Minister Horner expressed hope that the LRB’s consent order would offer clarity for Alberta’s families, teachers, and the public on the scope of the negotiations.
“I trust that this order will assist Alberta’s families and teachers in understanding the true nature of the ongoing negotiations,” he said.
While no timeline was given for a resolution, the narrowing of issues signals a potential breakthrough in the stalled bargaining process, though the ATA has not yet issued a formal response to today’s developments.
