August 22, 2025
RED FM News Desk
A potential strike by Alberta teachers is looming, prompting action from the local teachers’ union in Calgary. On Thursday, union members handed out lawn signs at Sue Higgins Park, raising awareness as the strike deadline draws closer.
Back-to-school preparations are already underway for families like Krista Semmens’, but there’s growing concern about the possibility of a school year disrupted by labour action.
“My child is in Grade 12, and I’d be really worried,” said Semmens. “It could seriously affect university plans.”
Parents of younger children also voiced concern over the potential impact of a strike. One Calgarian said, “If there’s a disruption, I’d have to leave work. My wife also works, and we don’t have any backup plan for the kids.”
Tensions have been building since June, when nearly 95 per cent of teachers who voted supported strike action. The Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) is calling for improvements to classroom sizes, educational resources, and teacher wages.
“We are the lowest funded school jurisdiction in Canada and have been for years,” said ATA president Jason Schilling. “This chronic underfunding is why we’re in this position today.”
If the union moves ahead with strike action, it must give 72 hours’ notice. The earliest a strike could happen is October 7. Meanwhile, the Teachers’ Employer Bargaining Association (TEBA) has applied for a lockout vote scheduled for August 29.
Formal mediation between the ATA and TEBA is set to take place from August 26 to 29.
Some parents say that while a disruption would be challenging, they sympathize with teachers.
“I don’t think they get paid enough,” said Semmens. Another parent added, “My child is starting high school, which is already a big transition. A strike would just make things harder, but I don’t blame the teachers.”
Alberta NDP education critic Amanda Chapman emphasized that the province holds the ultimate responsibility. “It’s the government that funds education,” she said.
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