On Monday, October 6, 2025, thousands of Alberta teachers began the province’s first general strike in decades. The move comes after educators overwhelmingly rejected the government’s latest contract offer.
The province proposed a 12% pay raise over four years and the hiring of 3,000 new teachers. However, teachers said the deal failed to address underfunding, overcrowded classrooms, and rising student needs.
According to the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA), 89.5% of members voted against the proposal. As a result, nearly 700,000 students across 2,500 schools are out of class as talks continue.
Impact on Education Students
The strike has forced the Werklund School of Education to adjust its fall field practicums. Many students were set to begin their classroom experience this week.
Marcelo Cano Cazares, a first-year education student, was among them. “I was excited to start teaching,” he said. “But hearing about the strike was hard—it felt like the rug was pulled out from under me.”
To ensure students stay on track, the school activated its Alternative Online Learning Plan, first used during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s a tried and tested model,” said Dr. Erin Spring, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs. “Students will progress as planned and graduate on time.”Still, some worry online learning won’t match real classroom experience. “I don’t want to go back to video-based lessons,” Cazares said.
Despite the challenges, many students support the strike. “Teachers deserve better,” Cazares added. “We’re standing with them.”Spring assured students that the faculty remains focused on their success. “We are prepared,” she said. “And our students will be too.”
