EDMONTON – Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has announced that her government will pass “Back-to-Work” legislation on Monday unless a negotiated settlement is reached to resolve the ongoing teachers’ strike, which commenced on October 6th across the province.
The Premier’s decision drew immediate and sharp criticism from Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) President Jason Schilling, who expressed profound dissatisfaction, calling the move disrespectful to the entire teaching community.
Teachers argue that this legislative action strips them of their rights and eliminates their opportunity to fight for necessary improvements to the educational system. They maintain that the current system is “broken,” lacking sufficient support and resources to meet students’ diverse needs.
The core issues driving the strike revolve around escalating class sizes and the failure to provide adequate support for high-needs students.
Teacher Shelby Olsen stated that forcing educators to return to work without addressing their fundamental grievances signals that the government is not prioritizing the well-being of either teachers or students. The association continues to advocate for systemic changes necessary to create a sustainable and supportive learning environment. The government’s ultimatum sets a high-stakes deadline for negotiations this weekend.
