Alberta Government Passes Back to School Act, Teachers to End Strike and Return to Classrooms

The provincial government passed the Back to School Act, forcing teachers to end their three-week strike and return to classrooms. The bill invokes the Charter's notwithstanding clause, allowing the government to protect the legislation from Charter challenges in court. About 750,000 students will return to classrooms on Wednesday, with teachers expected to resume work despite the imposed contract. The union is planning a legal challenge, with the union president stating that teachers are "upset, frustrated, and offended" by the government's actions.

Key Takeaways:

• The Back to School Act was passed by the Alberta government, forcing teachers to end their three-week strike and return to classrooms.
• The bill invokes the Charter's notwithstanding clause, protecting the legislation from Charter challenges in court.
• The imposed contract on teachers provides a 12-percent salary raise over four years and commits the government to hiring 3,000 teachers and 1,500 educational assistants.
• The union is planning a legal challenge, with the union president stating that teachers are "upset, frustrated, and offended" by the government's actions.
• Teachers have been told not to engage in work-to-rule, a labour tactic of doing only the minimum work required, but may reconsider their involvement in school extracurricular activities.
• The Education Minister is facing a recall petition in his Calgary riding, citing dissatisfaction with his handling of his portfolio.
• Labour groups are planning joint action in response to the legislation, with the Alberta Federation of Labour president stating that they will start collecting funds to build a war chest to help pay fines.
• Teachers who continue to strike can face fines of up to $500 a day, and unions can face separate penalties of up to $500,000 a day, according to the legislation.
• The imposed contract would expire in 2028, and does not include provisions for class caps or student-teacher ratios.

Statistics:

• 89.5% of teachers rejected the imposed contract in a late September vote (Source: Alberta Teachers' Association).
• 750,000 students will return to classrooms on Wednesday (Source: Government of Alberta).
• 51,000 teachers will be bound by the imposed contract (Source: Government of Alberta).
• 3,000 teachers and 1,500 educational assistants will be hired as part of the imposed contract (Source: Government of Alberta).
• The imposed contract provides a 12-percent salary raise over four years (Source: Government of Alberta).
• The government has imposed a fine of up to $500 a day on teachers who continue to strike, and a penalty of up to $500,000 a day on unions (Source: Back to School Act).

Sources:

• Government of Alberta
• Alberta Teachers' Association
• Back to School Act
• Social media post by Alberta Federation of Labour president Gil McGowan