Alberta Teachers' Association president Jason Schilling. (Photo: ATA)

By Jesse Gill / with files from Canadian Press

Alberta’s teachers start province-wide strike

Oct 6, 2025 | 8:19 AM

Alberta teachers have started a province-wide strike as of Monday, Oct. 6.

Alberta Teachers’ Association president Jason Schilling says that, starting on Monday, teachers across Alberta will rise together in a provincewide strike.

“Every teacher in public, separate and francophone schools will not go into work—not out of choice, but out of necessity,” Schilling said.

“Public education in Alberta has been in crisis for years. Class sizes have grown. Support has dwindled. Resources have been pushed beyond their breaking point. And through it all, teachers have held the line for students. But now, because this government has repeatedly failed to meet the needs of students, teachers and the public education system, we are taking a historic stand,” he added.

“This strike did not have to happen. The government had every opportunity to do the right thing. To listen. To act. Instead, they ignored the warnings from teachers, parents, students and communities alike. The time for excuses is over. The cracks have become chasms. The tipping point has come, and it has been years in the making.”

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Schilling also acknowledged that Sunday was World Teachers’ Day.

“A day meant to honour the dedication, passion and impact of educators around the world. We are choosing to honour it in the most powerful way we can: by standing up for ourselves, our students and the future of public education in Alberta,” Schilling.

“We show this government what solidarity looks like. We remind them that we are not only teachers: we are advocates, protectors and builders of Alberta’s future,” he added.

“Stand tall. Stand together. This is our moment. For our profession. For our students. For the future of public education in Alberta.”

Some 51,000 members of the Alberta Teachers Association begin strike action Monday.

The labour action will impact more than 700,000 students across 2,500 public, separate and francophone schools.

Most school boards had sent notices telling families that barring an 11th-hour deal, classes would be paused beginning Monday.

Both sides appeared far apart late last week but the union said Friday they had resumed “exploratory conversations.”

Teachers rejected the government’s latest offer late last month, which included a 12 per cent pay raise over four years, a government promise to hire 3,000 more teachers to address class sizes and money to cover the cost of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Teachers and their supporters at a rally outside Alberta’s legislature Sunday said it’s clear what they’re looking for despite claims from Premier Danielle Smith saying their union appears disconnected from what front-line educators want in a new contract.

ATA president Schilling said last week the hiring figure in that offer is a drop in the bucket compared to what’s needed, noting the province needs to hire at least 5,000 more instructors to align with student-teacher ratios.

– With files from the Canadian Press