EDMONTON — The head of Alberta’s teachers’ union says they will abide by a back-to-work order and will not engage in illegal actions such as work-to-rule.
Jason Schilling says work-to-rule would lead to punishing fines, but he says he is urging his colleagues to re-evaluate going the extra mile when it comes to their volunteer time at school.
Schilling says, for example, while he could still fulfil his teaching duties, he used to direct the drama play and coach cross country running, but perhaps won’t do the play next year.
His comments come a day after Premier Danielle Smith’s government introduced and passed through the house a bill ordering the 51,000 teachers to be back on the job Wednesday, ending a three-week wage strike over wages and working conditions.
The bill uses the Charter’s notwithstanding clause to shield it from court challenge and Schilling says while the teachers’ association is still contemplating a court challenge, he declined to say what that might look like.
Smith’s government has also promised to address teacher concerns over class sizes and complexities with a panel, and Schilling says they expect to be full partners in that process rather than what he called “props.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 28, 2025.
Lisa Johnson and Jack Farrell, The Canadian Press
