'There's no way they are accepting this deal': Strike threat remains as teachers prepare to vote on tentative deal

The possibility of a teachers’ strike still looms in Alberta despite a tentative agreement between the province and the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA), as critics say the proposal is “the same deal” as one rejected by teachers earlier this year.

The new offer differs only slightly from the government’s standing proposal , as reported by The Canadian Press on Wednesday. While the province has added coverage of COVID-19 vaccines for teachers, key elements such as a 12 per cent salary increase over four years and a commitment to hire 3,000 new teachers over the next three years remain unchanged.

NDP education critic Amanda Chapman, MLA for Calgary-Beddington, said she is “not hearing a lot of excitement” from teachers about the deal, adding she has received hundreds of letters this we