Teachers accept deal in last of 61 Alberta school divisions to do so

Posted on 16 April 2024 by Ryan Dahlman

Alberta Newspaper Group

Palliser School Division teachers have avoided a strike after voting in favour of recommended terms to a settlement.

On Monday teachers voted 64 per cent in favour of mediators recommended terms avoiding any need for labour action as they reach an agreement on their current collective bargaining with the province.

Palliser was the last of 61 divisions to reach agreement for the current terms of bargaining that extends back to September 2020.

“This was a challenging and protracted round of bargaining,” said Natalie Townshend, Palliser ATA local president. “We are relieved that an agreement could be concluded without interruption to schools, but the school division has some work to do to repair relations with its teachers. The local is prepared to work collaboratively with the board towards this.”

The Palliser School Division teaches in public schools in Coalhurst, Coaldale, Picture Butte, Vulcan and surrounding areas as well as 17 Hutterian colony schools and 10 alternative schools in Calgary.