EDMONTON: Over 740,000 students in Alberta are returning to their classrooms today after a teachers’ strike that lasted more than three weeks came to an end. Classes are resuming after the provincial government ordered approximately 51,000 striking teachers to return to work, using the controversial ‘Notwithstanding Clause’.
Although many school boards are restarting classes, parents have been warned that changes or delays may occur in diploma exams and extracurricular activities.
Commenting on the issue, Premier Danielle Smith stated that the government had no other options to resolve the dispute and claimed that the strike had caused irreparable harm to students.
Meanwhile, the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) confirmed that teachers will comply and return to work but accused the government of a severe violation of rights by utilizing the Notwithstanding Clause. The coalition of unions in Alberta has announced that it will legally fight the government’s use of the clause to resolve labour disputes.
