Alberta back-to-work legislation is an attack on teachers, all workers

Abuse of Power

October 27 2025

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is strongly condemning the Danielle Smith government’s back-to-work legislation that would impose a contract on Alberta teachers and invokes the notwithstanding clause to override their rights.

“This is a blatant attack on the rights of Alberta teachers,” said Bert Blundon, NUPGE President. “In fact, it is an attack on all workers in Alberta and in Canada.”

The back-to-work legislation tabled Monday tries to force an end to the historic strike by the 51,000 members of the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) and impose a contract previously rejected by the members. This is anti-democratic.

As NUPGE said last week, the back-to-work legislation is a flagrant violation of teachers’ bargaining rights and the right to strike. And it ignores the fundamental issues causing the strike—the long-term underfunding of public education, which is so vital to our communities and our economy.

The use of the notwithstanding clause, which allows the government to override certain rights and shield itself from legal challenge, is particularly appalling. It shows that the Smith government is knowingly and openly violating the Charter-protected rights of Alberta teachers. This is part of a disturbing trend of governments invoking the notwithstanding clause to try to override fundamental rights and freedoms.

“The abuse of the notwithstanding clause is a threat to all of our rights,” said Blundon. “If the Alberta government uses it to target teachers’ rights, who will be next?”

Blundon wrote to Premier Smith and to the ATA last week about NUPGE’s opposition to the back-to-work legislation and to express solidarity with Alberta teachers.

His message was clear: “Just as we did when the Ontario government tried to impose a contract on education workers using this same clause, NUPGE’s 450,000 members—and the Canadian labour movement—will stand behind ATA members in this fight.”

We also support the position of the Common Front group of unions—including our component union, the Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA)—who have committed to mobilize in response to this provocation.