A rally called “Fight for Public Education” was held Thursday outside of the Legislature building in Edmonton, with teachers, parents, community members, and students from across the province in attendance.
The strike centered over wages and working conditions affecting 750,000 students across 2,500 public, separate and francophone schools.
About 51,000 teachers have been off the job for more than three weeks.
Premier Danielle Smith said with the strike deep into its third week, the hardship facing students and families is intolerable, forcing her government to step in.
She said if the two sides can’t reach a deal at the bargaining table in the next few days, her United Conservative government will introduce back-to-work legislation Monday.
The two sides are deadlocked over wages and classroom conditions. The province has offered a 12-per-cent wage hike over four years and a promise to hire 3,000 more teachers to reduce overcrowded classrooms.
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