The largest teacher strike in Alberta’s history began today as 51,000 educators walked off the job amid a months-long contract dispute with the province.
The Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) was unable to reach a deal with the province at the bargaining table last week, leading to cancelled classes at roughly 2,500 public, Catholic, and francophone schools.
The strike interrupts class time for more than 700,000 Kindergarten to Grade 12 students as teachers protest what union president Jason Schilling described as “overcrowded classrooms” and “added workload.”
“We are striking to break the cycle and demand lasting change for future generations of students and teachers,” Schilling said in an Oct. 6 press release that cited inadequate funding and teacher supports in the face of increased student needs as a key bargaining issue….