ATA Labour Action Updates
This webpage will serve as the information hub throughout any potential labour action. Parents/guardians and staff will receive updates via email and any other communication as needed. Please check this page for the most up to date information.
Update Posted on October 3, 2025
Letter to Families - October 3, 2025
EICS Labour Updates - Frequently Asked Question
__________________________________________________________
Update Posted on October 1, 2025
Letter to Families - October 1, 2025
EICS Labour Updates - Frequently Asked Questions
Government Initiative to Support Parents
Parent Payment
To help ease the extra costs families may face while children are home during labour action, we’re introducing a parent payment program.
This support will be available to parents and guardians of students aged 12 and under who attend a public, separate or francophone school affected by the disruption. Eligible parents and guardians would receive approximately $150 per child for each week of labour action.
The payments will be made monthly, commencing October 31 and will be retroactive to October 6.
Applications will be available through the Alberta.ca platform. Further details, including an instructional video on the parent support payment, will be coming soon.
Parent Toolkit
To give families flexibility during the labour disruption, Alberta Education and Childcare has created a free toolkit that parents can use to help support their child’s independent learning when schools close.
The toolkit provides weekly resources that follow the K to 12 curriculum. Resources are available in English, French and French Immersion.
The toolkit includes materials for two weeks of learning. Additional weeks of learning materials will be added as needed.
Download the toolkits at new.learnalberta.ca
__________________________________________________________
Update Posted on September 29, 2025
Letter to Families - September 29, 2025
______________________________________________________________
Update Posted on September 16, 2025
Letter to Families - September 16, 2025
___________________________________________________________________
Update Posted on September 10, 2025
Letter to families - September 10, 2025
________________________________________________________________________
Update Posted on August 29, 2025
Letter to families - August 29, 2025
____________________________________________________________________________
Posted on June 12, 2025
ATA Strike Vote
A new collective agreement is currently being negotiated centrally at the provincial level between the Alberta Teachers' Association (ATA) and the Teachers' Employer Bargaining Association (TEBA), which represents the Government of Alberta and all school boards across Alberta.
Like all other school divisions in Alberta, Elk Island Catholic Schools is not directly involved in the negotiation process.
We value the essential role that teachers and all staff play in our school communities. Our Division also respects the collective bargaining process, and we remain hopeful that an agreement can be reached without disruption to teaching and learning.
What's Happening Now
As part of the ongoing bargaining process, the ATA held a province-wide strike vote. On June 10, the ATA announced that 95% of participating teachers voted in favour of taking strike action.
This vote gives the ATA the ability to begin job action within the next 120 days unless an agreement is reached between TEBA and the ATA. The ATA must provide school divisions 72 hours notice prior to any job action.
At this time, no job action has been announced. Schools remain open and are operating as usual, with no disruption to teaching and learning.
Our Role in the Bargaining Process
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are schools open?
Yes. All EICS 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 (cancelling classes on certain days), or a full strike (cancelling all classes).
How will families be informed of any changes?
We will share updates through School Engage and our website.
How should families prepare in case of a 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. Elk Island 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.
We will update families as soon as we become aware of further developments.