Alberta government pushes to get students back to class as teachers’ strike enters third week
More than 50,000 teachers in Alberta are now in their third week of striking, keeping over 750,000 French, Catholic, and public school students out of class since October 6, according to The Globe and Mail. The dispute centers on salaries, class sizes, and resources for students with complex needs, making it the largest teachers’ strike in the province’s history.
Government prepares back-to-work legislation
Premier Danielle Smith has indicated that back-to-work legislation could be tabled when the fall session begins on October 27 if the strike remains unresolved, reports The Globe and Mail. Alberta Jobs and Economy Minister Joseph Schow said next steps would be discussed at a scheduled cabinet meeting on Tuesday.“The Opposition would oppose such legislation vehemently, so we would have to use other tools at our disposal to get it through in a timely manner,” Mr. Schow said. He did not comment on whether the province would use the notwithstanding clause, which allows governments to shield legislation from Charter challenges.
Union pushback and legal challenges
The Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) has rejected the province’s proposal to enter mediation under conditions that would make class-size caps and student-teacher ratios non-negotiable. In a statement to The Globe and Mail, ATA spokesperson Heather Grant said union leaders are meeting to discuss the government’s remarks and would seek legal counsel if back-to-work legislation is introduced.Historically, Alberta teachers successfully challenged a ministerial order in 2002. Justice Allan Wachowich ruled that the strike had not caused enough hardship to suspend the right to strike, writing, “If a strike did not cause some degree of hardship it would be pointless.” Experts note that while a legal challenge to back-to-work legislation is possible, it would be more difficult than in 2002 and could take months or years to resolve.
Legal tools and the notwithstanding clause
Jason Foster, professor of human resources and labour relations at Athabasca University, explained that back-to-work legislation could take 24 hours to a week to pass, depending on legislative debates. The province could also invoke the notwithstanding clause to block union challenges—a tactic Ontario used in 2022 when Premier Doug Ford faced a potential strike by 55,000 education workers.Even with legislation, strike action would become illegal, and penalties, such as daily fines for the union or individual members, could be imposed.
Impact on parents and students
The strike is causing stress for families. Edmonton parent Jodi McDonald, co-founder of the Edmonton Public Schools Advocacy Network, told The Globe and Mail that the prospect of forced returns to class is frustrating. While her Grade 11 son requires little supervision, she said parents of younger children may welcome the return to school that back-to-work legislation would bring.“I think those parents will be relieved to have their kids back in school, and I think that’s what the provincial government’s relying on,” she said.
Looking ahead
As negotiations stall, Alberta faces a delicate balancing act: resolving the teachers’ concerns, reopening schools for hundreds of thousands of students, and navigating potential legal and political challenges. With both sides standing firm, the coming week could prove decisive for the province’s education system.
