October 27,2025
RED FM News Desk
Premier Danielle Smith’s government has introduced legislation invoking the Charter’s notwithstanding clause to force 51,000 striking teachers back to work, bringing an end to the largest teachers’ strike in Alberta’s history.
The decision sets up a possible confrontation with more than 350,000 members of other provincial unions, who have warned of an “unprecedented response” if the government uses the clause to override teachers’ collective bargaining rights.
Teachers have been on strike for three weeks over pay and working conditions, disrupting classes for more than 740,000 students in public, Catholic, and francophone schools.
The legislation imposes a deal that teachers had previously rejected — a 12 per cent wage increase over four years and a commitment to hire 3,000 additional teachers.
Under the bill, students would return to class on Wednesday, while teachers and their union, the Alberta Teachers’ Association, could face steep fines for failing to comply.
Smith said her government did not want to resort to the notwithstanding clause but argued that the scale of the strike and the need to maintain labour stability left no alternative.
Loading ...
