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The union representing Alberta teachers says it has turned down a request from the government to end a provincewide strike on Monday and go through enhanced mediation.
Alberta Teachers’ Association president Jason Schilling said the request came in a letter Thursday and the proposal left him and the union feeling “insulted.”
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He said he would expect the mediation process to be biased, since the province said it’s not willing to discuss caps on classroom sizes.
“This limitation undermines any attempt at resolution,” Schilling said Friday.
The caps are a main sticking point in the contract dispute, alongside wages, and Schilling said teachers aren’t willing to back down.
He said the union, which represents 51,000 teachers, responded to the letter and is waiting on a response.
Schilling didn’t rule out the possibility of ending the strike if the province moves on the terms of mediation.
“If they want to send a letter back and try … to improve the process, then we will look at what it is and then respond,” he said.
Premier Danielle Smith and her education minister were set to hold a news conference later Friday.
The strike, which began Oct. 6, has kept about 740,000 students out of 2,500 schools.
The two sides met Tuesday for the first time since the walkout, but formal talks haven’t resumed.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 17, 2025.
