Labour Update

No job action has been announced. Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools is preparing for the first day of school on Tuesday, September 2. 

As part of the bargaining process, the ATA held a province-wide strike vote. On June 10, the ATA announced that 94.5% of participating teachers voted in favour of authorizing strike action.

This vote gives the ATA the authority to begin job action at any time within 120 days, until October 7, unless an agreement is reached with TEBA. Teachers could strike with as little as three days’ notice.

Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools will continue to provide updates as new information becomes available.

In Alberta, teacher bargaining is currently happening centrally at the provincial level. It is a process between:

• The Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA): representing Alberta’s teachers, and
• The Teachers’ Employer Bargaining Association (TEBA): representing the Government of Alberta and all public, separate, and Francophone school divisions.

A central bargaining process means that items such as teacher salaries and benefits are determined through the provincial collective agreement, rather than through individual school boards. Local bargaining can only begin once this process has been completed.

Are schools open?
Yes. All GSACRD schools remain open, and classes are continuing as usual.

Has a strike been called?
No. While teachers have voted in favour of strike action, no job action has been announced. The ATA must give 72 hours’ notice before any action begins.

What could job action look like?
Job action could include work-to-rule (limiting duties outside of school hours), rotating strikes (closure of some schools on certain days), or a full strike (closure of all schools).

How will families be informed of any changes?
We will share updates through SchoolMessenger and our website.

How should families prepare for a potential strike?
While no job action has been announced, families should begin planning in case a full strike occurs. If the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) moves ahead with a province-wide withdrawal of services, there will be no classes, no online learning, and students will not attend school. Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools will receive 72 hours' notice before any job action begins. We encourage all families to consider backup arrangements for childcare and daily routines. 

If classes are cancelled due to a strike, will schools provide childcare during the day?
No. If there's job action that results in classes being cancelled, students will not attend school in person or online. GSACRD does not operate childcare services. However, some schools lease space to independent childcare providers. These providers are separate from the Division and make their own decisions. GSACRD will honour existing leases, which means providers may continue offering services during a strike. Families are encouraged to contact their childcare provider directly and to make alternate arrangements in case of a disruption.