Q & A

Opting out of the ATA

Gordon Thomas

Question: I understand that central office staff can opt out of ATA membership. What are the results of this process?

Answer: Under the Teacher Membership Status Election Regulation and the Teaching Profession Act, some central office staff are eligible to elect their membership status with the Association. These individuals are identified by a school board, and their work is restricted to central office duties and cannot include teaching functions. Fifty-two of 62 school boards identified teachers eligible to make an election of membership. A total of 479 teachers were identified by these boards. Only 35 (7.3 per cent) central office teachers elected non-membership, 46 (9.6 per cent) elected associate membership, and the overwhelming majority, 398 (83.1 per cent), elected active membership. The Association is currently in a process to confirm that the teachers identified by school boards as eligible to make an election of membership are correctly identified within the rules set by the regulation.

Questions for consideration in this column are welcome. Please address them to Gordon Thomas at Barnett House.
gthomas@teachers.ab.ca