CANADALAND Strike Wave! Workers vs Governments Across Canada
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Nov 4, 2025 Dr. Jason Foster, a labour relations expert and former policy director, sheds light on the Alberta teachers' strike that led to government intervention via the notwithstanding clause. He discusses the emotional toll on teachers and the challenges of classroom complexity. Jason critiques the government's justifications and cautions against normalizing such governance tactics. He also situates Alberta's situation within a broader national trend of worker activism, emphasizing strategies unions can pursue to counter legislative pressures.
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Teacher Breaks Down After Forced Return
- Elizabeth, an Alberta humanities teacher, describes crying in the office after a tech failure during a forced-return-to-work day.
- She says morale is low and she now only works contracted hours, illustrating teacher burnout and stress.
Class Size And Support Drove The Strike
- Foster notes teachers' core demands were class-size reductions and more classroom resources to handle complexity.
- He links chronic underfunding since 2019 and population growth to today's acute classroom strains.
Teacher Priorities Shift During Strike
- Elizabeth says her priorities shifted from pay to classroom supports as the strike progressed and government disrespect escalated.
- She would accept zero salary increase if it meant adequate investment to fix classroom conditions.