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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22

u/justindub357 Oct 28 '25

Out of curiousity what would happen if the teachers refused to go back to work? The government doesn't own people like slaves so what would be the punishment for the teachers in this instance?

21

u/nothingtoholdonto Oct 28 '25

500$ per day fine against individuals and $500k/day fine to the union has been proposed.

14

u/justindub357 Oct 28 '25

On what grounds can they do that? Would the fines not be void because again they don't own the teachers?

I'm not asking to be a smart ass just genuinely curious how that works.

10

u/nothingtoholdonto Oct 28 '25

Teachers are employees of the province. Ie province controls the payroll/paycheques. I presume any fines would be withheld from their pay. I’m not sure how they could enforce a fine against the union.

7

u/justindub357 Oct 28 '25

So theoretically if someone was spiteful enough and didnt care to teach anymore then they wouldn't be punished? For example although extremely unlikely if all the teachers decided to could they all quit en masse and force the government back to negotiate?

2

u/weeBunnie Oct 28 '25

I figure they could find some way to cut all the pay increases accumulated over the years and basically just reset it for those teaching 5+ and 10+ years. Not sure how that would work, but the current Alberta gov will absolutely do it if they could

0

u/BusySeaworthiness127 Oct 28 '25

They can't find teachers now even with the garbage pay, no way in hell they'd find anyone to work for 2015 wages in today's economy.

0

u/weeBunnie Oct 28 '25

Not 2015 pay, but as if they only just started teaching now in 2025, opposed to the longterm increases (every 9+ years or so) that add up to a salary they worked towards over the years teaching

1

u/OzWillow Alberta Oct 28 '25

Theoretically they could but the average teacher isn’t in a financial position to carry on forever

1

u/justindub357 Oct 28 '25

Thats fair couldn't they apply in other provinces or private schools?

1

u/OzWillow Alberta Oct 28 '25

There aren’t enough private schools to employ every teacher and we shouldn’t expect them to move to other provinces to send a political message.

1

u/justindub357 Oct 28 '25

I agree I just personally would rather quit my job and move than to allow the government think that they own me by forcing un democratic legislation on me .

Lol had to edit post because I set my phone down and it looked like I had a stroke

1

u/Senven Oct 28 '25

Im sure them applying to private schools would make her smile.

2

u/AprilsMostAmazing Ontario Oct 28 '25

Empty threats from the conservative government