Alberta Government May Issue Back-to-Work Order if Teachers’ Strike Continues

Alberta’s government says it will consider pursuing back-to-work legislation if the Alberta teachers strike continues without resolution.

Finance Minister Nate Horner made the remarks Oct. 15 during a radio interview, saying a significant gap still exists between what the province is willing to fund and what teachers are demanding. He said Alberta is likely to introduce back-to-work legislation once the provincial legislature reconvenes later this month if the strike isn’t resolved by then.

“If this is still going when we start session on [Oct. 27], I’m assuming we will look to try to get kids back in school quickly,” Horner told host Shaye Ganam on Corus Radio. “I know the parties have left it open to continue to talk, but we’re somewhat running out of time here.”

The strike by the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA), which represents 51,000 educators in the province, began Oct. 6 over salary demands in addition to stated concerns about student-teacher ratios and funding for provincial education.

“Teachers took the painful, yet necessary step of walking out without pay because they believe Alberta’s students deserve better. They are standing up for their profession and every child in this province who needs the attention, support and learning environment that only properly funded public schools can provide,” ATA spokesperson Heather Grant said in an Oct. 15 statement provided to The Epoch Times.

Grant said a proposal brought forward by the union Oct. 14 included a feasible approach to implementing all the changes they demanded and a reasonable counter-offer to the three percent annual salary raise being offered by the province, amounting to a 12 percent raise over four years.

“Those details are still at the bargaining table so unfortunately we can’t expand at the moment,” Grant said.

ATA president Jason Schilling said in an Oct. 15 statement that it’s now up to the government to resolve the dispute at the bargaining table.

“Now, we expect the government to respond reasonably, in good faith, and not through the media but at the bargaining table where these discussions belong,” Schilling said.

“The responsibility to end this disruption now lies squarely with the government. The next move is theirs to do what Albertans expect of them—to fund education properly and get students back in class.”

For his part, Horner said the Oct. 14 proposal from the ATA “shot for the moon” and exceeds the budget the province has set aside for a deal with teachers by almost $2 billion. Horner said the provincial government has put a $2.6 billion cap on the contract, to be spread over four years.

“I was hoping for something that was a little more reasonable in the realm that we’ve already worked on over the last year,” Horner said, adding the province won’t change its salary offer.

A union spokesperson said no new meeting dates have been set, and both parties are “considering their options” at this time. Horner said in a statement that the government hopes to return to bargaining this week.

“The ATA and their members need to be prepared to come to a clear, concrete solution rooted in reality,” he said.

Back-to-work legislation would legally require teachers to return to work, forcing an end to the dispute and bringing the labour dispute to binding arbitration where a neutral third party would hear out both sides and enforce a binding resolution to the strike.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.