Students across Alberta, including those in the Clearview Public and East Central Catholic school divisions, are back in the classroom today after the province passed emergency legislation to end a three-week teachers’ strike.
The Back to School Act, introduced by the UCP government, orders roughly 51,000 teachers back to work & imposes a four-year collective agreement running from September 2024 to August 2028.
The law also invokes the notwithstanding clause to block Charter challenges, & makes further job action illegal.
Teachers who refuse to return to work face fines of up to $500 a day, while the Alberta Teachers’ Association or its locals could be fined as much as $500,000 daily for any illegal job action.
Talks between the Alberta Teachers’ Association & the Teachers Employer Bargaining Association collapsed in early October, after months of negotiations over pay, workload & classroom supports.
Teachers and staff are preparing catch-up plans to help students recover missed instructional time following the three-week shutdown.
Author: Landin Chambers
Landin Chambers is a news reporter for Hometown Media Stettler. He has a background in broadcast news, with previous roles in Prince George, Red Deer and Calgary. You may also see him as a cameraman for the Stettler Wildcats and Stettler Imperials. Have a story idea? Email: lchambers@htproductionsmedia.ca
