Dear EIPS families:

As you may be aware, earlier today, the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) announced members across Alberta—including all teachers from Elk Island Public Schools—plan to begin strike action starting Oct. 6, 2025. At this point, a strike is not certain, as negotiations are still ongoing. Teachers will only strike if an agreement with the province's collective bargaining group isn’t reached by the specified date.

At Issue: ATA teachers are asking for a clear plan from the province’s Teachers’ Employer Bargaining Association (TEBA), to address class size, classroom complexity, violence in schools and compensation. Currently, the province and ATA are negotiating a deal that works for both sides. EIPS is not involved in the negotiation process. It maintains a positive relationship with both sides and hopes an agreement is reached quickly to avoid classroom disruptions. No further negotiation dates have been identified at this time.

Learning: EIPS will continue to monitor the situation and evaluate its impact on school operations. If there is a general strike, it will impact close to 17,950 students across the Division. As such, EIPS will have no choice but to close schools. All student transportation services and EIPS extracurricular activities, including field trips; clubs and committee meetings; and sports competitions, practices and games, will also need to be suspended until classes resume.

To prepare, EIPS families should make alternate arrangements for their children in the event there is a strike. Childcare centres located in EIPS schools will may remain open—contact the childcare provider directly for more information on any changes to their operations. Existing lease agreements and after-hours rentals already booked remain in place.

As always, families will receive regular email updates from the Division when new information becomes available about the situation, its potential impact on school operations, and what it means for them and their child. In the meantime, visit eips.ca for the latest labour information, news and updates.

Thank you for your continued co-operation and understanding.

Sincerely,
Elk Island Public Schools