When the Alberta government imposed a four-year contract on teachers through legislation, it didn’t just end a strike—it shut down conversation. By invoking the notwithstanding clause, the government did its best to silence teachers, who had overwhelmingly voted against the deal. This felt like a betrayal of democratic principles and a disregard for the profession that shapes Alberta’s future.
The legislated terms do include some wins. There are salary increases, hiring commitments and other technical fixes, market adjustments for hard-to-fill positions, northern allowances of $6,300 annually, and updated health and safety language, including the addition of a clause affirming teachers’ right to a workplace free from harassment and violence.
These changes are positive and one small step in the right direction. However, they do not make up for the years of minimal increases to teacher salaries and chronic underfunding of public education. Moreover, they do not address the systemic challenges that are contributing to high levels of stress and attrition in the profession. Chronic substitute shortages, overcrowded classrooms and escalating complexity remain and must be addressed.
The strike changed everything. It showed the power of solidarity and put education on the front page.
Let’s be honest. Teachers and school leaders didn’t strike for minor improvements. They took job action for three weeks and made sacrifices for more—to attain real solutions and meaningful investment to ensure that their work is sustainable and that public education can continue to serve Alberta’s students.
In legislating this agreement, the government postponed meaningful change to the public education system. It continues to offer promises and signal that improvements are on the way. They are listening, they say. I hope they are. But as of right now, not much has changed. Teachers asked for progress; they got political maneuvering.
Is this disappointing? Absolutely. Is it the end of the conversation? Not if we continue to raise our voices.
The strike changed everything. It showed the power of solidarity and put education on the front page. The sea of red across Alberta reminded everyone that teachers fight for students, even when the system fails them. That cannot be ignored and cannot be forgotten.
Disappointment is real, but so is resolve. This is not the end. It is the moment to keep the pressure high. Keep sharing your classroom realities with parents, media, community leaders and your MLAs, ensuring that underfunding and complexity are understood as lived experiences, not abstract concepts. The conversation must continue.
The fight for a better education system isn’t done. We will stand together, stronger because of what we have learned.
Albertans are tired of promises; we want progress.
I welcome your comments. Contact me at kristine.wilkinson@ata.ab.ca.
Editor-in-Chief, ATA News
