Provincial Labour Negotiations with the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA)

This webpage will serve as the central hub for information related to potential labour action. Staff and families will receive email updates if any action is required. Please refer to this page regularly for the most current information.

The Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education respects the integrity of the collective bargaining process and acknowledges its importance in achieving fair and constructive outcomes. We also recognize that situations of this nature can cause feelings of uncertainty for students, families, and support staff. We remain committed to transparent communication and to supporting all members of our school communities throughout this period.

At this time, all Medicine Hat Catholic schools and facilities remain open and plan to operate as normal with the first day of school (for grades 1-12) scheduled on August 28, 2025. 

All labour action updates will be shared on this webpage and via direct email to staff and families as actionable information becomes available.

Timeline

Negotiations between the Alberta Teachers’ Association and the Teachers’ Employer Bargaining Association (TEBA) are ongoing, with both parties scheduled to return to the table on August 26, just ahead of the 2025-2026 school year.

June 10, 2025: Results of the strike vote were announced. The ATA is now in a legal position to give notice to strike if they choose to do so (within 120 days of the strike vote). Now having a strike mandate from their membership, the ATA would have to give a minimum of 72 hours notice if they choose to withdraw their services.

June 5-8, 2025: Members of the ATA completed a strike vote.

May 2-5, 2025: ATA Members voted against a mediator's recommendation during Central Bargaining. 

What could happen next? 

• Now having a strike mandate from their membership, the ATA would have to give a minimum of 72 hours notice if they choose to withdraw their services.
• Within the 72-hour notice period, school boards across the province would begin to enact contingency plans. 
• Division communications would share applicable information with support staff and families via direct email.

How does bargaining work?

• In Alberta, teacher bargaining takes place at two levels:
• Central bargaining (currently underway) occurs at the provincial level and addresses broad, province-wide matters, such as salary and general working conditions. This is the process that is occurring now. 
• The parties involved at this stage include the ATA’s Central Table Bargaining Committee (CTBC) and the Teachers’ Employer Bargaining Association (TEBA).
• Bargaining at a local level occurs following the central bargaining process. 

Who are ATA Members in a school division? 

• All certificated teaching staff, including school-based leadership teams such as principals and vice principals, are members of the ATA.