Academic staff at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) have voted in favour of a strike mandate. Members of the NAIT Academic Staff Association (NASA) participated in a strike vote on Wednesday and Thursday. According to NASA, 83 per cent of votes were in favour of a strike, with 83 per cent of eligible members casting a vote. The results are unofficial pending verification by the Alberta Labour Relations Board, but NASA says they send a clear and powerful message. The union says it reached a bargaining impasse with the school in December. At issue is wages, benefit issues, and protection from being replaced by a lower-paid class of instructors, among other issues. In a statement on its website, NAIT said it respects the outcome of the vote and “remains committed to minimizing disruption to student learning.” NASA could issue a strike notice anytime between Thursday and May 15, as the mandate remains valid for 120 days. The school further confirmed on its site that as of Thursday, classes were continuing as usual and a strike notice has not been issued. The union would have to give a 72-hour notice before a strike could begin. “We value the work of our instructors and remain hopeful that we can get back on the table, with the help of a mediator, and that ongoing discussions will lead to an agreement without interrupting student learning,” NAIT’s statement reads. NASA represents more than 1,000 academic staff at NAIT. The parties have been in collective bargaining since July 2024.
