NAIT Academic Staff Move Toward Strike Vote After Talks Stalled in December, Citing Impact on Quality Education
Faculty emphasize goal is resolution – not disruption – and call for meaningful progress at the table
Edmonton – Academic staff at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), represented by the NAIT Academic Staff Association (NASA), are preparing to hold their first-ever strike vote after bargaining talks stalled in December without meaningful progress.
The strike vote does not mean a strike is imminent. Rather, it is intended to underscore the seriousness of unresolved issues that faculty say directly affect the quality and sustainability of education at NAIT, including workload, staffing levels, and the ability to properly support students.
The situation at NAIT reflects broader challenges across Alberta’s post-secondary system, where prolonged provincial government underfunding has left institutions with fewer resources to meet growing demands from students and communities.
“Our members care deeply about NAIT and about their students,” said Shauna MacDonald, President of the NAIT Academic Staff Association. “A strike vote is not something faculty take lightly. It’s a signal that we need real movement to resume bargaining and protect the learning environment students expect and deserve.”
NASA represents academic staff across NAIT’s programs, including instructors, counsellors, librarians, and curriculum and instruction specialists. Faculty say they remain committed to reaching a negotiated agreement and avoiding job action but note that prolonged delays and uncertainty affect both staff and students.
“Faculty want to be in the classroom, focused on teaching and supporting learners – not preparing for job action,” MacDonald said. “A strong strike mandate helps create the conditions for bargaining to resume and for a fair and timely resolution.”
NASA will continue to engage with its members and provide updates as the situation evolves. Any potential job action would be preceded by further notice.
About the NAIT Academic Staff Association (NASA)
The NAIT Academic Staff Association (NASA) represents academic employees at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), advocating for fair working conditions and the protection of high-quality, publicly funded post-secondary education.
Media Contact:
Shauna MacDonald
President, NAIT Academic Staff Association
[email protected]
780-471-8916