Alberta teachers in strike position as contract talks collapse

August 29, 2025

RED FM News desk

Negotiations between Alberta teachers and the provincial government have collapsed just days before most K–12 students return to classrooms.

At a joint news conference Friday, Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides and Finance Minister Nate Horner said mediated contract talks with the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) have reached an impasse, blaming the union for walking away from the table.

The breakdown means more than 51,000 teachers and administrators across public, Catholic and francophone schools are now in a legal strike position, raising the prospect of widespread classroom disruptions if no agreement is reached.

Horner pointed to Alberta’s projected $6.5-billion deficit—$1.3 billion higher than earlier estimates—as a key factor in limiting the government’s offer. He said the province had tabled a proposal worth $750 million over the life of the contract and expressed disappointment that the ATA rejected it.

“Public sector agreements must be financially sustainable and strike a balance between fair wages and easing the pressures on taxpayers,” Horner said. “The bargaining team walked away from this offer. That’s why I’m disappointed to be here today.”