The Alberta government plans to introduce legislation next week to resolve the ongoing provincewide teachers’ strike, Premier Danielle Smith announced. The proposed Back to School Act, known as Bill 2, aims to get students back in classrooms as negotiations with the teachers’ union have reached an impasse.
Since October 6, approximately 51,000 public, separate, and francophone school teachers in Alberta have been on strike, affecting around 750,000 students. The main issues causing the strike include disputes over salaries, classroom sizes, and support for student complexities.
The government has offered a 12% wage increase over four years and the hiring of 3,000 additional teachers to address overcrowded classrooms. However, the teachers have rejected this offer, leading to the current stalemate.
Opposition leader Naheed Nenshi has criticized the government’s decision to introduce back-to-work legislation, calling it an attack on teachers, public education, and workers’ unions. The teachers’ union expressed the need to review the legislation to understand its implications fully.
Despite the looming legislation, both the government and the union remain open to negotiation, with hopes of reaching a resolution before the bill is enacted. Teachers, gathered in a rally at the legislature grounds, expressed concerns about returning to the same work environment if the legislation is passed.
The Finance Minister emphasized the government’s goal to end the strike and urged the union to engage in further negotiations to avoid the need for legislation. The legislative process for Bill 2 is expected to move swiftly through the stages, with limited debate time allocated.
The Education Minister couldn’t provide a precise timeline for students’ return to school post-legislation passage. However, he mentioned that preparations are underway to facilitate a quick return once the bill becomes law.
As the situation unfolds, teachers and students across Alberta are closely monitoring the developments, anticipating a resolution to the prolonged strike and a return to normalcy in the education system.