Teachers and their supporters gathered in Edmonton on October 5, 2025, to mark World Teachers’ Day with a rally calling for better classroom conditions and fairer pay. The Canadian Press
Teachers and the Alberta government sat down for talks on Tuesday for the first time since a provincewide strike shut down schools last week. The meeting marked a critical step in efforts to end the labour dispute that has kept 740,000 students out of 2,500 classrooms across the province.
By Tuesday afternoon, neither side had shared details of the discussion. Both parties have said they are reviewing the latest proposal from the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA), which represents 51,000 teachers.
A Proposal Under Review
Finance Minister Nate Horner confirmed last week that the government received a new proposal from the ATA. He described it as “complex,” explaining that the government’s bargaining committee needed time to study it before resuming negotiations after the long weekend.
The ATA has not disclosed specifics of its proposal, but union leaders have stressed the need for more classroom support and additional teacher hires beyond what the government has already pledged.
The main sticking points remain wages and class sizes. The government’s previous offer — rejected overwhelmingly by teachers last month — included a 12 per cent wage increase over four years and a commitment to hire 3,000 new teachers.
Calls for a New Deal
Opposition NDP education critic Amanda Chapman urged Premier Danielle Smith’s government to table a better offer and end the disruption.
“Teachers and educators need smaller classrooms and better resources to address their needs, and students need to be back in their classrooms,” Chapman said. “It is entirely up to the UCP government to bring a deal forward that meets these needs.”
Teachers across the province continue to hold rallies and walks to maintain public support and push for improved funding and resources.
Support for Parents and Students
As the strike enters its second week, the government has launched an online subsidy program to help parents manage childcare costs. Families can claim $30 per day for each child aged 12 and under for every missed school day. Payments, once approved, will begin rolling out on October 31 and will apply retroactively.
The province has also added a third week of online learning materials for students. However, some parents have criticized the content for being disorganized and including American-based lessons. The government maintains the material is meant to keep students engaged while classrooms remain closed.
Public Opinion Divided
An Angus Reid Institute poll released this week found that 60 per cent of Albertans sympathize with striking teachers, while 21 per cent side with the government. Among past UCP voters, teacher support drops to 28 per cent.
The online survey gathered responses from just over 800 Albertans over three days last week.
With tensions still high and negotiations ongoing, both sides face pressure to reach a deal that gets students back to class without further delay.
