2025 Alberta teachers' strike
Public education labour dispute
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The strike, organized by the Alberta Teachers' Association (ATA), was the result of multiple disagreements with the Government of Alberta over the terms of a new labour contract.
The strike was announced on September 29, 2025, after an offer by the government was declined. The strike began on October 6, 2025, with 51,000 teachers on strike. Due to the strike, all public education classes were cancelled, impacting 730,000 students, and 2,500 public, separate, and francophone schools.
Background
The Alberta Teachers' Association focused on seeking better working conditions, increased pay, and class-size reduction. Many schools reported overcrowded classrooms, with some exceeding 40 students. Underfunding for education in Alberta was also cited as a key contributor to the strike. By the time of the strike, spending per K-12 student was $13,494 in Alberta, the lowest among all provinces in Canada. Alberta also ranked highest in percentage of per-student funding to independent private schools.
Rallies
After the strike announcement, multiple rallies were organized across Alberta (primarily in Calgary and Edmonton), mainly to support educators. A notable rally occurred on October 5, 2025, at the Alberta Legislature Building, where thousands of people attended.
Back to School Act passage
Alberta's premier, Danielle Smith, ordered teachers back to work on October 29, following the passage of the Back to School Act (Bill 2). Because of this, teachers are not permitted to strike until August 31, 2028, when the legislation expires.
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Aftermath
Gil McGowan, president of the Alberta Federation of Labour, held a press conference following the passing of Bill 2, saying "We will begin the process of organizing towards a potential general strike." He was joined by leaders from the province's other major unions, forming a collective known as the Common Front. Three weeks after McGowan made the claim of organizing towards a general strike, no general strike action had been taken.
Student walkouts
In response to the passing of Bill 2, thousands of students in schools across the province participated in student walkouts in support of the teachers, mainly in middle and high schools.