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The updates below are from the Alberta School Employee Benefit Plan (ASEBP). The original
document was intended to be sent out to covered members earlier this week. To ensure members receive these updates, the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA), as a signatory to the deed of trust for ASEBP, has agreed to share the information through its communication channels as well. Please contact ASEBP with any specific questions about the plan. For teachers enrolled with other benefit providers, please contact your specific provider using your usual procedures. If you need assistance with ASEBP or have questions about collective agreement entitlements related to your group health benefits and health spending accounts, please contact Teacher Employment Services at 1-800-232-7208. Improved Coordination with Multiple Dental Coverage Plans Starting July 1, 2025, ASEBP is enhancing the coordination of dental claims across two ASEBP plans. To learn more about how this can reduce your out-of-pocket expenses, go to www.asebp.ca/news/improved-coordination-multiple-dental-coverage-plans. Spending Accounts It’s time to consider where you want to allocate your spending account credits. You will receive an email from ASEBP towards the end of June with more information. Once you set your credits, you will also receive a confirmation email.p 2 Update your Over-Age Dependents If your dependent plans to continue full-time education after turning 21, you must update your dependent’s education status on My ASEBP. On ASEBP’s website, go to the Using My Plan tab, then select Managing Dependents to find out more. WORTH SHARING Even with summer break starting, it is still important to stay up to date on your group health benefit plan. As of July 1st, ASEBP will fully coordinate dental benefits, which may result in lower out-of-pocket expenses. Contact Teacher Employment Services for assistance and advice about group health benefit provisions in the collective agreement. #WeAreATA  Following the rejection of the mediator’s recommendations by teachers, Provincial Executive Council held an emergent meeting and decided not to provide strike pay directly to members from the Special Emergency Fund (SEF). Due to the way SEF is structured and funded through member dues, it is unlikely it would allow for meaningful support to individual members during a provincial strike. With all members potentially out at the same time, this would be an inefficient form of forced savings as any funds used would need to be replenished, typically, from member dues. Without strike pay, members who do not have many savings to rely on may need to seek other methods to reduce potential financial burdens. The following list contains some that members can explore to assist them financially should a strike occur:
Other than contacting lenders and services as noted above, members might consider focusing only on essential spending for now. The money saved by eliminating or reducing discretionary items such as meals out, entertainment and travel can be set aside in savings as a financial cushion should strike action occur. WORTH SHARING Currently, there is uncertainty about possible labour action for teachers, which is creating anxiety for some, especially as it relates to their finances. It is recommended members be proactive and explore options available to help reduce financial burdens should strike action take place. Many lenders, creditors and other billing agencies provide options to customers experiencing financial hardship. Members can also be more mindful of their spending habits now and start tucking some funds away should they need them in the future. #WeAreATA    We’re continuing to host Member Information Meetings to ensure all teachers have the opportunity to understand the mediator’s recommended settlement. 👉 View the full meeting schedule here. To help you stay informed, we’ve also developed a Frequently Asked Questions page, which covers the following key areas of the mediator's report:
The ratification vote on the mediator’s recommended settlement will take place from May 2–5, 2025, with results to be announced on May 6. To ensure you can access your ballot, we must have your personal email address on file. So far, we’ve collected over 25,000 teacher emails—but if yours isn’t included, please add it now. 👉 Submit your personal email here. Thank you for staying informed and engaged in this important process.
Peter MacKay, Central Table Bargaining Committee (CTBC) Chair
Sean Brown, CTBC Chief Negotiator   Today, the ATA issued the following statement in response to members of Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) locals 2545 and 2559 in Fort McMurray ratifying deals. “Teachers are hopeful that the settlement of the Fort McMurray agreements, along with the tentative deals reached in other jurisdictions, will prompt immediate action by remaining school boards to settle with their striking employees. The government’s interference in collective bargaining, together with its unwillingness to properly fund public education, led to this strike and delayed its resolution. This was entirely avoidable. These agreements, achieved through the sacrifice of workers in CUPE locals 2545 and 2559 over the last four months, will finally lift the heavy burden this labour action has placed on support workers, students and teachers, allowing a return to normalcy.” -ATA president Jason Schilling   The Alberta School Employee Benefit Plan’s (ASEBP) Employee and Family Assistance Plan (EFAP) is being rebranded from Inkblot by GreenShield to GreenShield Health. Effective March 17, 2025, the EFAP provider for those covered under ASEBP will be rebranded as GreenShield Health (formerly referred to as Inkblot). There are no changes to the existing programs and services; however, some enhancements will now be available. These include a mental health program built for kids, the first and only all-Indigenous virtual mental wellness clinic and digital cognitive behavioural therapy for anxiety and depression. ASEBP’s It Takes a Village website will be updated with new information and resources. On March 13, 2025, covered members and their dependents who are registered with Inkblot will receive a “migration” e-mail from Inkblot announcing the changes. Members (but not dependents) will also receive a welcome e-mail from GreenShield on March 17, 2025, which will include an organization code that is required for signing up. Members will also require their ASEBP ID number to sign up. Dependents will need the organization code but not the ASEBP ID to sign up. GreenShield has developed a reference outlining how you can register for a new EFAP account or migrate your EFAP account from Inkblot. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to a benefit specialist at [email protected] or call toll free at 1-877-431-4786. WORTH SHARING ASEBP is rebranding the Employee and Family Assistance Plan from Inkblot to GreenShield Health, which includes enhancements to the existing programs and services. Covered members under ASEBP can expect to receive an email on March 13 announcing the changes. #WeAreATA  |
Updates from ATA ProvincialArchives
June 2025
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