The union representing 51,000 Alberta educators who have been on strike since October 6 has confirmed they were urged to come back to work voluntarily and participate in discussions where constraints on class sizes and pupil-teacher ratios were not up for negotiation. Despite ongoing cancellations affecting about 750,000 students, Alberta Teachers’ Association president Jason Schilling disclosed that teachers rejected an offer to engage in “enhanced mediation” sessions that would halt any job actions for a month.
Schilling criticized the biased nature of the proposed process, deeming it favorable to employers and expressed his displeasure, calling the proposition insulting. He emphasized that addressing overcrowded classrooms and insufficient resources to support students’ needs have been key demands from teachers. Premier Danielle Smith hinted at potential legislation to compel teachers back to work if an agreement is not reached before the legislative session starting on October 27.
The ATA has not confirmed whether they will legally contest any back-to-work legislation. A letter from the finance minister’s office released by the ATA indicated that the parties should present suggestions to a mediator regarding teacher salaries and classroom complexities. The letter emphasized the need for flexible solutions to address diverse student needs without imposing strict classroom size limits or student-teacher ratios.
Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides acknowledged teachers’ concerns about class sizes and complexities and expressed readiness to hire more educators, support staff, and construct new schools to enhance learning conditions. Premier Smith argued against fixed mechanisms like class-size caps and pupil-teacher ratios, citing their impact on staffing flexibility within school boards.
Jason Foster, a labor relations professor at Athabasca University, criticized the government’s approach, suggesting that their offer seemed more about optics than genuine negotiation. He predicted that any potential back-to-work legislation would mandate teachers’ return to work and likely lead to binding arbitration with restricted issues for consideration. Foster warned that enforcing such laws might provoke resistance from teachers, leading to fines or other punitive measures.
Furthermore, Alberta Education announced that November diploma exams will be optional due to the ongoing contract dispute, with January exams proceeding as scheduled. The current impasse, resulting in the strike and lockout of teachers across public, Catholic, and francophone schools, has left around 750,000 students out of classrooms. Teachers have rejected previous wage offers and demand better pay increments to address long-standing salary stagnation amidst rising costs.