Alberta Teachers and Government Resume Negotiations Amid Ongoing Strike

The union representing Alberta teachers and the provincial government’s bargaining team resumed negotiations on October 14, 2025, after a provincewide strike entered its second week. The strike has resulted in approximately 740,000 students being out of classes across 2,500 schools in Alberta, significantly impacting educational activities.

Details of the Negotiations

As of early afternoon on Tuesday, neither the Alberta Teachers’ Association nor the government provided specifics regarding the discussions. According to Finance Minister Nate Horner, the government had received a new proposal from the teachers’ union, which represents around 51,000 educators. Horner indicated that the proposal is complex, necessitating further review by the government’s bargaining team before resuming talks after the long weekend.

The details of the new proposal remain undisclosed, but the union has expressed a clear demand for the government to commit to hiring more teachers than previously promised. The last offer, which proposed a 12 percent pay increase over four years alongside a commitment to hire 3,000 additional teachers to address overcrowded classrooms, was overwhelmingly rejected by teachers in a vote held late last month.

Political Responses and Community Impact

In response to the ongoing situation, Amanda Chapman, the Education Critic for the opposition NDP, urged the United Conservative Party government to invest more in Alberta’s education system. Chapman stated, “Teachers and educators need smaller classrooms and better resources to address their needs, and students need to be back in their classrooms, learning,” emphasizing the necessity for a new deal that adequately funds the public education system.

In an effort to support families affected by the strike, the government has launched an online portal allowing parents of children aged 12 and under to claim subsidies for missed school days. Parents can receive $30 for each day their child misses school due to the strike, with payments rolling out retroactively starting October 31, 2025.

Union locals across Alberta have organized various rallies and walks in support of the teachers this week, particularly in Calgary, anticipating that the strike may extend beyond the recent negotiations.

An online survey conducted by the Angus Reid Institute revealed that nearly 60 percent of Albertans surveyed expressed sympathy for the striking teachers, while only 21 percent sided with the government. Support for teachers was notably lower among past voters of Premier Danielle Smith’s United Conservative Party, dropping to 28 percent.

It is important to note that the polling industry’s professional body, the Canadian Research Insights Council, states that online surveys do not have an assigned margin of error due to their non-random sampling methods.

This report is based on information from the Canadian Press, reflecting the evolving situation in Alberta’s education landscape and the ongoing challenges faced by teachers and students alike.