Your Central Table Bargaining Committee (CTBC) and the Teachers’ Employer Bargaining Association (TEBA) met for a central bargaining session at the end of October. At the conclusion of that session, the CTBC and TEBA decided to move forward with mediation. After consulting with Provincial Executive Council (PEC), a joint application to request the services of a government-appointed mediator was submitted to the Director of Mediation Services.
Members were updated on October 30 on the status of bargaining. The update indicated that an application for mediation would be forthcoming and that virtual Member Information Meetings (MiMs) would be held November 18, 19 and 20. The MiMs (two English and one French) provided a more thorough bargaining update for members, as well as laying out the case for proceeding to mediation.

Recently, a mediator was appointed to help the parties address the significant issues at the bargaining table. Deborah Howes was appointed by the director and is supported by both parties. Howes is known to the Association and was instrumental in resolving the most recent Edmonton Public Teachers local bargaining dispute. She has also been on several other challenging files with the Association. To be clear, it should not be construed that this mediator sides with the Association. She is an impartial third party—someone who is fair and respected and will push both parties to find a resolution.

The CTBC and TEBA are coordinating dates with the mediator for January. Once confirmed, the dates will be shared with members. The CTBC has four more dates scheduled with TEBA (November 26–27 and December 12–13) before mediation. Updates will be provided after these sessions.

The mediation MiMs received positive responses from members. The first English MiM was held on November 18, with over 3,600 participants. On November 19, approximately 10 per cent of francophone members attended the French MiM, and the November 20 English MiM saw over 1,900 in attendance.
Given the busyness of members’ work lives, the meetings were recorded for those who could not attend. Access the recordings in English and French from the Association’s Bargaining Update page here. Questions and answers from all the meetings have been compiled and are posted with the videos.

WORTH SHARING
Member Information Meetings (MiMs) about mediation were held November 18–20. Watch English or French recordings by visiting Bargaining Update page here. Support your CTBC at the table on November 26–27 and December 12–13 by wearing red. Thank you for your continued support! We are in this together. #WeAreATA

WORTH KNOWING
Member information meetings on mediation

As shared at the end of October, the central bargaining process is moving into mediation. While the conversations continued to be professional, it became clear that the Alberta Teachers’ Association’s (ATA) Central Table Bargaining Committee (CTBC) and the Teachers’ Employer Bargaining Association (TEBA) will require the assistance of a mediator to find resolution on the most significant items from our initial proposal. Those items would include working conditions (class size and composition, assignable/instructional time and data collection) and compensation.

The joint application for mediation has been sent to the Director of Mediation Services and the parties await the appointment of a mediator.

More specific information about the last days of bargaining is available by visiting the Bargaining Updates page.
Members are invited to attend one of the three member information meetings (MiMs), two in English and one in French, coming up next week. The meetings aim to provide a bargaining update and a discussion about what is involved in mediation. It is important to note that the information shared at each meeting will be identical, so there is no need to attend all three meetings.

Please use the links below to register for the meeting that best suits your schedule. These 90-minute meetings will be recorded via Zoom in a webinar format and will include time at the end for questions.

Date: Nov. 18 (English)
Start Time: 5 p.m.
Registration Link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Pkfu6G0uR-Giq1UdNCU74g

Date: Nov. 19 (French)
Start Time: 5 p.m.
Registration Link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_g77PbauAT--YrczCwGg0zg

Date: Nov. 20 (English)
Start Time: 7 p.m.
Registration Link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_g8gyFcjVTA2zM70uXKRxhw

The CTBC appreciates members’ support. Please continue to show solidarity by wearing Red for Ed on the upcoming bargaining dates of November 26 and 27 and December 12 and 13.
Stay connected and involved through our social media sites, Facebook (@ABteachers), Instagram (@abteachers) and X (@albertateachers).

WORTH SHARING
With the application for mediation now filed, central bargaining moves into a new phase. Members should attend one of the upcoming member information meetings (MiMs) to stay connected and current. Attendees at the MiMs will be able to ask questions and learn about the mediation process. Check out the official bargaining update by visiting the Bargaining Updates page. #WeAreATA