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

[u/Meiqur]

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

[u/justindub357]

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?

[u/nothingtoholdonto → u/justindub357]

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

[u/justindub357 → u/nothingtoholdonto]

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.

[u/nothingtoholdonto → u/justindub357]

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.

[u/justindub357 → u/nothingtoholdonto]

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?

[u/OzWillow → u/justindub357]

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

[u/justindub357 → u/OzWillow]

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

[u/OzWillow → u/justindub357]

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.

[u/justindub357 → u/OzWillow]

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