Alberta NDP Pushes Back as Teacher Strike Bill Looms
Negotiations between Alberta teachers and the provincial government have stalled for a third consecutive week, prompting the United Conservative Party (UCP) government to signal possible back-to-work legislation — a move the Opposition NDP vows to resist.
NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi urged the public on Wednesday to keep pressing the government for a fair deal rather than allowing legislation to end the strike. The standoff over wages, class sizes, and working conditions has left 750,000 students across 2,500 public, separate, and francophone schools out of classrooms since October 6.
Premier Danielle Smith called the situation an “intolerable hardship” for students and families, warning that her government could introduce a back-to-work bill as early as next week if no resolution is reached.
Meanwhile, Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) president Jason Schilling said he fully expects the premier to “be true to her word and legislate teachers back to work.”
With the fall legislative session opening Thursday, the dispute is expected to dominate political debate, particularly as teachers plan to attend the throne speech from the gallery and rally outside the legislature.
Class Sizes at the Core of the Dispute
A key point of contention in negotiations is class-size caps. Schilling explained that teachers had proposed specific student–teacher ratios, but the government instead suggested an “enhanced mediation process,” which the ATA rejected.
The teachers’ union said it remains open to returning to the bargaining table, though it has yet to receive a response from the province.
In a statement, Marisa Breeze, press secretary for Finance Minister Nate Horner, said the government “respects the bargaining process” but warned that if the ATA prolongs the strike, legislation would be introduced “at the start of the session.”
Parents are also weighing in. Krystle Hoogendoorn, a parent from Parkland County west of Edmonton, said the ATA’s demand for smaller classes reflects real concerns.
“The proposal to bring down class sizes is exactly what parents like me want. I don’t feel the government is listening,” she said.
Hoogendoorn added that, despite the disruption, she supports the teachers’ cause.
“If we go back now without change, three weeks of lost learning would mean nothing,” she said. “Teachers need better classroom supports.”
As both sides dig in, the province faces growing pressure to balance classroom stability with meaningful reform — and the next few days at the legislature could determine how Alberta’s education standoff unfolds.
