The Government of Alberta has officially brought the province-wide teachers’ strike to an end with the passage of Bill 2, the Back to School Act, forcing approximately 51,000 teachers back into classrooms. The legislation was introduced in response to an extended labour dispute over wages, class sizes, and learning supports — a conflict that disrupted education for hundreds of thousands of students across the province.
Bill 2, the Back to School Act, is emergency legislation that compels striking teachers to return to work and suspends ongoing job action. It gives the province the legal authority to override certain collective bargaining rights for the duration of the contract dispute. To shield it from legal challenges, the government invoked the notwithstanding clause of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This clause allows provincial governments to temporarily override specific Charter rights, including those related to freedom of association and collective bargaining.
The Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) has voiced strong opposition to the legislation. While agreeing to comply with the return-to-work order, ATA leaders say the fight for manageable class sizes, and increased learning supports will continue through legal and political channels. The union has announced plans to challenge the government’s use of the notwithstanding clause.
Premier Danielle Smith defended the bill as a necessary measure to “restore stability” to the education system, pledging to hire 3,000 additional teachers and create a panel to address class size and classroom complexity.
Although the strike has formally ended, many critics warn that the underlying issues remain unresolved. As schools reopen across Alberta, both sides are preparing for the next phase of the debate over funding, working conditions, and the rights of teachers in collective bargaining.
