Timeline: Contract negotiations with Alberta government, teachers

As teachers and the Alberta government head back to the bargaining table this week, CTV News Edmonton has broken down a timeline of the events that led to the tumultuous negotiations which resulted in a record-breaking strike.

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Aug. 31, 2024: Teachers’ contract expires.

May 6, 2025: Teachers reject mediator’s recommendations for a provincial collective agreement with 62 per cent opposed.

May 27, 2025: Strike authorization vote sees 99 per cent of teachers in favour.

June 5-8, 2025: Polls open for teachers on formal strike vote.

June 10, 2025: More than 94 per cent of teachers vote in favour of striking.

Aug. 29, 2025: Province votes for lockout option ahead of possible strike, says ATA is to blame for stall in negotiations.

Sept. 2, 2025: First day of school for most Alberta students.

Sept. 10, 2025: ATA announces teachers will go on strike Oct. 6 if a deal is not reached.

Sept. 15, 2025: Alberta government files a complaint with the Labour Relations Board against the ATA.

Sept. 17, 2025: Province announces ad campaign to push its side in the dispute.

Sept. 19, 2025: Alberta government reveals labour relations board consent order showing there are only three outstanding bargaining issues between province and ATA. Teachers’ lead negotiator Peter MacKay resigns. Talks between the province and teachers resume.

Sept. 22, 2025: Students take to the Alberta legislature to rally for teachers.

Sept. 29, 2025: Nearly 90 per cent of teachers reject tentative agreement with province.

Oct. 6, 2025: More than 700,000 students impacted across 2,500 schools as 51,000 teachers go on historic strike.

Oct. 14, 2025: Teachers and the province head back to the bargaining table. Strike enters its second week. Provincial portal for parent financial aid opens with technical difficulties.

Oct. 15, 2025: Province begins review of ATA-proposed deal.

Oct. 16, 2025: Teachers and supporters rally in Edmonton’s Ice District as Premier Danielle Smith speaks at Rogers Place’s Ford Hall.

Oct. 17, 2025: The ATA says the government sent the association a letter in which it asked teachers to return to work on Oct. 20 as part of an “enhanced mediation” to reach a deal. The ATA declined the request. The province stipulated class sizes weren’t part of the deal.

Oct. 20, 2025: Teachers enter third week of strike.

Oct. 23, 2025: Alberta government to introduce “Back to School Act” on the first day of the fall session. Thousands of teachers are expected to rally outside of the legislature. Premier Danielle Smith says the bill will be debated on Monday.

Oct. 27, 2025: The Alberta government passes the UCP’s Back to School Act, forcing teachers back to work using the notwithstanding clause.

Oct. 29, 2025: More than 740,000 students and 51,000 teachers head back to class as three-week strike ends. Alberta Federation of Labour prepares for a general strike in response to Bill 2.

Oct. 30, 2025: Hundreds of students walk out of class in support of teachers.

Nov. 6, 2025: The ATA launches a legal challenge of Bill 2, asking the court to declare the government’s use of the notwithstanding clause improper and invalid.