4 ❚ The ATA News , February 3, 2026 “Your voices should be amplified” Teachers asked to share thoughts on back-to-work legislation
Lindsay Yakimyshyn ATA News Managing Editor T here’s a new ATA acronym to watch for. In 2024, Teacher Employment Services (TES) gained a subunit that focuses on providing members with timely, effective support regarding their online accounts. Now, that change is being reflected in the program area’s name:TES is nowTeacher Employment Membership Support, or TEMS. TEMS coordinator Sean Brown says this change better aligns the program area’s title with the work it is already doing, including its emphasis on ensuring members can access the Back to the fall Under Bill 2, teachers were legislated to return to work on October 29, 2025, after striking for 16 work days. Bill 2 also prohibits teachers from striking for the duration of the agreement, and suspends local bargaining while the agreement is in effect. “In halting lawful labour action and imposing an agreement on teachers, Bill 2 was designed to break the union,” Schilling said. “But we remain strong.” The bill outlined significant penalties for noncompliance, including fines of up to $500 per teacher per day and $500,000 per day for the ATA. Given the potential exposure of individual teachers, locals and the provincial ATA to immediate and significant sanctions, the ATA and its members reluctantly complied with the return-to-work order. “We complied not because the legislation fixed anything—it didn’t— but because Provincial Executive Council has a responsibility to protect
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information and tools they need to stay engaged with and supported by their Association. “The new name more accurately captures the scope of work being undertaken in our program area,” said Brown. “Over the past two years, staff have been transitioned to TEMS to create a more seamless experience for our members.” TEMS offers a range of services, including assisting members who are experiencing issues within their professional role. The Membership Support subunit complements the work of the program area by helping members access the Members Only website, update their personal and contact information, and participate in voting processes. Many organizations and individuals spoke out against Bill 2 and the government’s use of the notwithstanding clause. Now, the ATA is making space to hear from the members who were directly affected by these measures. By sharing their experiences, teachers can provide insight into and help document the effects of the legislation, from classroom realities to professional challenges. our members and our union,” said Schilling.“Any attempt to pass a motion that called for unlawful conduct, such as defiance of the order, would have been beyond the authority of the organization.” On November 6, the ATA filed an application with the Court of King’s Bench seeking to overturn sections of Bill 2 and requested an injunction to halt enforcement of the legislation while the legal challenge proceeds. The case is currently still working its way through the courts. Reactions and next steps
“The public needs to keep hearing from teachers,” said Schilling. “Your voices should be amplified, and this is one way to do just that.” How can I participate? Drop by the ATA table at your convention, sign the consent form and record your thoughts! Staff will be on site to answer any questions and support your recording.
W hat do you want the public to know about the effects of Bill 2, the Back to School Act , and the notwithstanding clause? What do you need in your classroom to make it manageable, and why? This February and March, teachers will have the opportunity to record their responses to these questions at teachers’ conventions across the province. Members can stop by the ATA table at their convention to ensure their voices are heard, with staff available to facilitate the recording. This project aims to capture how the return-to-work legislation and the notwithstanding clause are affecting Alberta teachers and school leaders. “We want to hear from our members,” said ATA president Jason Schilling. “Their experiences and insights are critical to understanding the impact of the government’s decisions on classrooms, students and the teaching profession.”
Will teachers’ messages be shared publicly? Only with explicit written
consent. The recordings may be shared on social media or similar mediums. ATA program area renamed to reflect added focus
With the name change now in effect, Brown emphasized that existing programs, staffing and services will remain intact. “Members can expect to start seeing the TEMS acronym and updated branding,” Brown said. “However, our commitment to providing high-quality, timely service to members remains unchanged.” If anything, he added, the rename reasserts the ATA’s commitment to ensuring supports are responsive to member needs. “We are here to ensure our teachers get the support they need, and this is one way to improve our efficiency and efficacy in service to members,” he said.
Coordinator of the ATA’s TEMS program area, Sean Brown.
RED for ED! Launched by Calgary teacher Alicia Taylor, a Citizen Initiative Petition on private school funding is in its final stretch. The petition asks, do you think the Government of Alberta should end its current practice of allocating public funds to accredited independent (private) schools? Since mid-October, more than 2,000 canvassers—including current and retired teachers—have gathered tens of thousands of signatures in support of the petition. For the question to qualify for a referendum, the petition must have 177,000 signatures by February 11. More information on the petition and where to sign over the last few days is available at https://abfundspublicschools.ca/.
Want to share how you or your team is supporting public education in Alberta? Let your colleagues know why you wear Red for Ed, or how you create moments of engagement or advocacy. Email managing editor Lindsay Yakimyshyn at lindsay.yakimyshyn@ata.ab.ca. Show us your RED for ED! Create your own “Red for Ed” wear. Visit albertateachersassociation.entripyshops.com to customize and order “Red for Ed” branded apparel — hats, hoodies and more! The online shop rotates graphics every few months, so check out the current styles now.
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