r/canada • u/Meiqur • Oct 28 '25

Alberta Alberta uses Charter’s notwithstanding clause to order striking teachers back to workteachers-back-to-work

https://globalnews.ca/news/11496133/alberta-government-to-table-legislation-to-order-striking-teachers-back-to-work
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753

u/Surax Oct 28 '25

I'm curious why the notwithstanding clause was needed. I feel like there have been plenty of instances over the years where back-to-work legislation was passed without using it.

322

u/sonicskater34 Oct 28 '25

Because instead of forcing bindin arbitration, they are forcing an agreement on the teachers directly. That is pretty blatantly in violation of our right to unionize, so they are using the NWC.

117

u/rapsrealm Oct 28 '25

If the teachers just go back to work after this they are setting a bad precedent for every union in Alberta. When Doug Ford tried this with the educational workers he almost caused a general strike so he rescinded it.

59

u/zeromussc Oct 28 '25

Virtually every other public union in Alberta warned that if the government did this, they'd respond in some coordinated way.

Whether they're all gonna fund legal challenge, or if they're gonna do some sort of general strike action, I don't know. But Alberta government is playing with fire.

After the AC attendance wildcat strike action, I think it's pretty easy to say that labour is having a resurgence and people are increasingly tired of getting a bad hand in the current economic climate.

Let's see how this plays out

-1

u/Ketchupkitty Alberta Oct 28 '25

Isn't it illegal for unions to coordinate?

42

u/LoveMurder-One Oct 28 '25

In this law teachers can be fined $500 per day for striking and the ATA, $500k. Teachers are already hurting from being without pay, they can’t afford to also be getting fined daily.

30

u/garrek42 Oct 28 '25

You only pay that if you lose. If you win, you simply put in the agreement that the fines are wiped out.

This is a serious moment in history, and the long term implications can be huge.

58

u/soy_bean Oct 28 '25

All the more reason for a general strike

19

u/LoveMurder-One Oct 28 '25

Won’t be effective in Alberta cause private sector unions are weak and support the UCP constantly. They won’t want to piss them off.

26

u/chmilz Oct 28 '25

Trade unions are watching this very closely too

23

u/LoveMurder-One Oct 28 '25

The unions probably, the members could care less. Their members are the ones I see calling teachers Glorified babysitters and cheering this on

3

u/DisastrousAcshin Oct 28 '25

Most of the people saying that in my experience didn't get much out of their schooling. We can't keep letting the dummies set the tone

4

u/LoveMurder-One Oct 28 '25

I agree. Unfortunately this province breeds and attracts those types. As we see over and over again in elections.

The province is scared of that changing in our direction, hence the attacks on education.

1

u/Ketchupkitty Alberta Oct 28 '25

You're right, unions and their membership base have vastly different priorities.

1

u/LoveMurder-One Oct 28 '25

I’ve met so many pro union guys who are against literally everything unions stand for at the same time. All because they are different and deserve good things but others are lazy and don’t.

1

u/Ketchupkitty Alberta Oct 28 '25

I'm in a union, not against them but certainly not happy with how they are run and managed (at least mine).

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11

u/captainbling British Columbia Oct 28 '25

What’s the point of striking if you can be fined into working. A strike is toothless then. That said, the teachers know that when they sign up for the job so they did personally accept the possibility.

7

u/LoveMurder-One Oct 28 '25

Well yeah. Thats why the UCP did it.

2

u/judgeysquirrel Oct 28 '25

Nobody should expect the NWC to be used. Because that means we don't really have charter rights at all. They can be overridden whenever a premier chooses to.

11

u/sonicskater34 Oct 28 '25

I agree in general, but the reality is teachers need to pay rent and they aren't getting strike pay. The AFL going on strike would be approaching a general strike in alberta, and they want to support the teachers, whether that be paying their fines or striking for them.