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 striking teachers’ union and the government’s financial boundaries.
The ongoing province-wide strike has impacted approximately 750,000 students attending 2,500 schools, now in its seventh day. The Alberta Teachers’ Association presented a new contract proposal during a recent bargaining session, the first since the 51,000 teachers initiated the strike on October 6.
In an interview on Corus Radio, Horner criticized the union’s latest proposal, stating it exceeds the government’s allocated budget by nearly $2 billion. He hinted at the potential introduction of back-to-work legislation once the legislative session resumes on October 27 to swiftly return students to school.
The government has set a spending limit of $2.6 billion for the contract over four years. Horner expressed disappointment in the union’s demands, emphasizing the need for a more realistic approach based on previous negotiations.
The union’s proposal revolves around salary increases exceeding the government’s prior offer and addressing classroom issues such as class size limits. Union president Jason Schilling defended the proposal as reasonable, emphasizing the necessity to address pressing educational concerns.
Regarding the government’s previous offer, which included a 12% salary increase over four years and a commitment to employ 3,000 additional educators, Horner stated that the province stands firm on the salary aspect, deeming the previous offer equitable compared to recent public sector agreements.
As discussions continue, the union and the government are evaluating their options, with no confirmed meeting dates scheduled. Horner urged for a practical and mutually acceptable resolution, emphasizing the importance of a realistic approach to reach a settlement beneficial for all parties involved.
