Bill 2 won’t fix the crisis in Alberta classrooms

The Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) is condemning the government’s plan to table Bill 2, Back to School Act, on Monday, Oct. 27. This legislation will end Alberta’s provincewide teacher strike.

Throughout this dispute, teachers have bargained in good faith, bringing forward thoughtful, practical proposals to address the serious issues facing Alberta’s classrooms. The ATA remains committed to reaching an agreement through the collective bargaining process, which must include productive dialogue about addressing class size and complexity.

“Teachers remain ready to work with the government to fix what’s broken, but this government has chosen confrontation over cooperation—and Alberta’s students will continue to go without the supports they need to thrive.”

—ATA president Jason Schilling

When the system is broken—and when the government continually disrespects the teaching profession—then we have a responsibility to speak up. Teachers have spoken. Thousands of Albertans have spoken. Yet the same government that boasts of a “strong and free” province is now using its power to try to silence them.

“The choice the government has made is completely unnecessary. It’s also undemocratic and will set an extremely dangerous precedent. By choosing to end this legal labour action through legislation, the government is abdicating its duty to address the real issues that teachers—and thousands of Albertans—have raised throughout this strike and in the months leading up to it.”

—ATA president Jason Schilling

The Alberta Teachers’ Association, as the professional organization of teachers, promotes and advances public education, supports teachers’ professional practice and serves as the advocate for its 51,000 members.