Alberta’s finance minister has indicated that the province may introduce back-to-work laws if teachers remain on strike when the legislature reconvenes later this month. Nate Horner highlighted a significant gap between the demands of the teachers’ union and the government’s financial constraints. The ongoing province-wide strike has impacted approximately 750,000 students across 2,500 schools and reached its seventh day on Wednesday.
During a recent bargaining session, the Alberta Teachers’ Association presented a new contract proposal, the first meeting since the strike began on October 6 with 51,000 teachers participating. Horner, speaking on a Corus Radio show with Shaye Ganam, described the union’s latest proposal as ambitious, requiring nearly $2 billion beyond the government’s allocated budget for a potential agreement.
Considering the financial limitations, Horner suggested the government might introduce legislation to get students back to school swiftly if the strike continues into the legislative session starting on October 27. The government’s proposed spending cap for a contract stands at $2.6 billion over four years, with Horner expressing hope for a more practical resolution given the work done over the past year.
The union’s proposal primarily focuses on salary increases exceeding the government’s previous offer and addressing classroom concerns such as class size limits. Despite the government’s previous offer of a 12% pay raise over four years and the commitment to hire 3,000 additional educators to tackle overcrowded classrooms, Horner emphasized the province’s firm stance on salaries, citing the fairness of their proposal compared to recent agreements with other public sector unions.
While the union has not yet responded to Horner’s statements, a union spokesperson mentioned the absence of scheduled meeting dates and both parties exploring their options. Horner expressed a desire for renewed negotiations this week, emphasizing the need for a realistic and mutually beneficial solution. The Alberta Teachers’ Association has scheduled a news conference for further updates.