Over 30,000 teachers from across Alberta gathered outside the legislature on Thursday, calling for improved working conditions and fair pay as the government prepares to introduce its Back to School Act. CTV News
Thousands of Alberta teachers and their supporters gathered outside the legislature in Edmonton on Thursday, calling on the provincial government to return to the bargaining table. The rally comes as the province prepares to introduce back-to-work legislation next week, ending a strike that has left more than 750,000 students out of class for two weeks.
Teachers, dressed in red, filled the streets, waving signs and chanting for fair treatment. Many said they wanted the government to hear their frustrations about classroom conditions, wages, and growing workloads.
“I hope they hear the passion and the despair that teachers are sharing,” said Jason Schilling, president of the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA). “Students are slipping through the cracks, and classrooms are struggling.”
Government Moves Ahead With Legislation
Earlier in the day, Premier Danielle Smith confirmed that her government will bring forward the “Back to School Act” on Monday, forcing educators to return to work.
Schilling said he understands the government’s power to pass such a law but believes it undermines democratic debate. “They’re ramming through legislation without giving time for proper discussion,” he said. “Teachers just want a fair chance to negotiate.”
According to Schilling, the government has had plenty of time to reach an agreement before the strike escalated.
Inside the legislature, Finance Minister Nate Horner said no new bargaining sessions are currently scheduled. “We’ve never left the table,” Horner said. “If the ATA reached out this weekend, we’d be ready to talk.”
Children Caught in the Middle
Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides said he hopes to see students back in classrooms as soon as possible. “Children shouldn’t be suffering because of a disagreement between adults,” he said. “If the Back to School Act passes, we’ll work quickly to reopen schools.”
But opposition leader Naheed Nenshi criticized the move, calling the legislation “shocking.” He said the bill allows only an hour of debate per step, which he described as an abuse of process.
“This government never had a plan to fix education,” Nenshi told reporters. “They engineered this strike and now want to end it by force. There’s nothing in their plan that improves classrooms or supports teachers.”
Teachers’ Voices from the Rally
An estimated 30,000 teachers from across Alberta joined the rally. Some came from as far as Calgary, holding signs — and even potatoes — in response to Smith’s recent remark that “there’s more than one way to peel a potato” when discussing negotiations.
Among them was Holly Davidson, a teacher with 25 years of experience. “I love what I do,” she said, “but it’s heartbreaking when I can’t reach every student. We need better support to meet their needs.”
Contract Dispute Continues
The teachers’ contract expired August 31, 2024, and both sides remain stuck on key issues — classroom complexity and wages. The ATA argues that larger class sizes and rising demands have made teaching more difficult, while the government insists its offers are fair.
As the strike heads into its third week, Alberta’s education system faces a critical moment — one that could shape the future of classrooms across the province.
