Over 20,000 individuals from Alberta gathered in the two main cities of the province on Sunday, many displaying flags or placards while rallying for increased government backing for public education.
These demonstrations occurred a day before the scheduled strike of Alberta’s 51,000 teachers. In the absence of a last-minute agreement between the teachers’ union and the provincial government, Monday will witness Alberta’s inaugural provincewide teachers’ strike.
Heather Quinn, president of ATA Local 37 representing Edmonton public school teachers, emphasized the significance of public education in a speech on the steps of the Legislature, stating, “Public education is a foundation of a strong democratic society.” Quinn urged all Albertans to actively advocate and fight for the future of public education to ensure equitable access for generations to come.
Discussions between the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) and the provincial government have been at a standstill for over a month in their negotiations for a new collective agreement. Key contentious issues include salaries, escalating class sizes, and the need for additional support staff to address classroom complexities. The previous contract expired in August 2024.
In 2002, the last teachers’ strike in Alberta saw more than 20,000 teachers from 22 school divisions walk out for several weeks until the then-premier, Ralph Klein, intervened and mandated their return to work.
During a radio program on Saturday, Premier Danielle Smith urged the union to reconsider the strike, highlighting the negative impact it would have on teachers, parents, and students. The government had requested the union to resume negotiations over the weekend, but formal talks could not be arranged as per a statement from Finance Minister Nate Horner’s office.
Amidst these developments, an estimated 18,000 educators, parents, and students gathered at the Alberta Legislature in Edmonton, while around 3,000 attended a rally at the McDougall Centre in downtown Calgary.
Participants expressed their concerns about class sizes and their impact on students’ education. Teachers and students from various schools across the province voiced their support for public education during the rallies.
Notable rally-goers included Laurie Dirsa, a teacher who traveled around 600 kilometers from High Level to Edmonton to make their voices heard. The sentiment among attendees was that the current state of public education in Alberta is concerning and necessitates immediate attention.
As the possibility of a strike looms, stakeholders remain hopeful for a resolution while acknowledging the potential disruptions it may cause to students’ learning. Grade 11 student Talon Cook is already preparing to self-study the curriculum to mitigate any educational setbacks.
Meanwhile, in Calgary, mayoral candidate Jyoti Gondek emphasized the urgent need to avert a strike to prevent severe disruptions to families and students in the region.