Offer for Alberta teachers includes same pay with COVID shots, voting starts Saturday

EDMONTON — The Alberta government announced Wednesday it had struck a tentative deal with the union representing 51,000 teachers provincewide, though the proposal is largely the same as the province’s previous offer.

The potential deal needs to be ratified by members of the Alberta Teachers’ Association, which says voting is to take place Saturday through Monday, one week ahead of a strike deadline.

Neither Alberta Finance Minister Nate Horner nor the teachers’ union provided details about the agreement.

A copy obtained by The Canadian Press shows the deal varies little from the government’s standing offer, though one change is the province will cover COVID-19 vaccines for teachers.

It falls in line with the province promising the shots for workers in other sectors, including health care, as most Albertans will have to pay $100 for the vaccine this year.

The tentative deal includes the same salary increase of 12 per cent over four years that was rejected by teachers this past spring.

It also repeats the government’s previous commitment to hire 3,000 more teachers over three years to address classroom crowding.

Also included are annual pay bumps of 3 per cent for substitute teachers for a full day of work, and a commitment to hire 1,500 full time educational assistants before the summer of 2028.

Horner said in a statement the tentative deal is “strong on classroom investment.”

“If ratified, this deal will form the basis for labour stability in the province and will be a positive path forward for a successful school year for our kids,” Horner said.

“My thanks to both parties for their work in developing a tentative agreement that reflects elements that are good for teachers and the education system as a whole.”

The union said results are expected after voting closes Monday night.

“Teachers will go on strike on Oct. 6 in the absence of accepting a deal,” it said in a statement.

A strike would see classes disrupted for more than 700,000 students across 2,500 schools.

Union president Jason Schilling said teachers aren’t taking the weekend vote lightly.

“They recognize what is on the line with this vote and remain committed to an outcome that prioritizes the future of our public education system,” he said.

The union also said it would present the offer neutrally, meaning officials won’t lobby members to vote one way or the other.

Contract talks had stalled this month over salaries and investments demanded by teachers to reduce classroom sizes and address teaching complexities.

The province took the union to the labour board last week over a communications document that claimed provincial negotiators didn’t have the power to negotiate non-wage issues, which the government said wasn’t true.

The labour board issued a consent order Thursday resolving the complaint. The order said the parties agreed the outstanding bargaining issues are related to pay hikes and COVID-19 vaccines for teachers.

The two sides returned to the bargaining table Friday — the same day the province rolled out an advertising campaign defending its previous offer.

That offer, rejected by teachers in the spring, included the commitment to hire 3,000 more teachers and boost pay 12 per cent over four years.

The government’s ad campaign includes an upbeat video highlighting the pay rise and more money to reduce classroom sizes. It ends with a narrator saying, “Now that’s a good deal that keeps kids in the classroom.”

The union had previously rolled out its advertising campaign, using billboards, TV and radio commercials, teacher testimonials on social media, and postcards and lawn signs.

The return to bargaining also came a day after a key negotiator for the teachers’ union resigned. In a social media post after stepping down, Peter MacKay said he left because he “didn’t see a path” forward for getting a deal in place.

The union said MacKay’s departure wouldn’t affect future bargaining efforts.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 24, 2025.

Jack Farrell, The Canadian Press