If you’re stuck during the teachers’ strike, your union can help!
We don’t need to tell you that the fastest way to end a strike is by supporting it.
While we stand unequivocally in support of teachers across the province, we also know that the strike is impacting the lives of our members.
Many workers rely on their kids being in school in order to schedule work shifts. With schools across Alberta closed, some parents of school-age children are left scrambling to find childcare.
Remember, you’re not alone
If you are faced with a scheduling conflict due to the teachers’ strike, reach out to your Union Labor Relations Officer for help.
Your union’s legal counsel has written the following legal opinion on your employer’s duty to accommodate you while the strike is ongoing.
Click here to read our counsel’s legal opinion.
Your union is writing to every employer with whom we deal to advise them of the legal opinion we have secured on their duty to accommodate you during the strike and ensure they make every effort to do so.
Communication is key
The last thing we want is for anyone to face discipline because of a strike-related scheduling conflict. Communicating with both your union and your employer is key to avoiding any trouble.
Reach out to your Union Labour Relations Officer as soon as you identify an issue. Collect as much information as possible to put your ULRO in the best position to advise you and advocate on your behalf.
If your ULRO advises you to contact your employer on the identified issue, don’t delay in doing so. The faster you act on their instructions, the better.
Keep open lines of communication with both your Union Labor Relations Officer and your employer. Ensuring everyone is in the loop and up to date will help resolve issues quickly and effectively.
Government assistance
Additionally, the Government of Albert has announced funding to assist parents of children ages 12 and under during the strike. The provincial government is proposing to provide parents with $30 per day of the strike per affected child.
The payment portal, where parents can apply for assistance, is expected to launch on October 14, 2025. You can get more information about this program by clicking the link below:
Click here for Parent Supports During School Closures from the Government of Alberta.
To be clear, we don’t necessarily agree with this approach by the provincial government and believe they should focus on getting back to the bargaining table with teachers to conclude an agreement. Nonetheless, we also recognize that many workers are struggling to make ends meet and need every resource available to help them do so.
To that end, we note the above information for our members who may feel the need to explore such options while expressing unequivocal support for striking teachers.
Solutions stem from standing together
Everyone is managing some degree of stress because of the strike, especially the striking teachers themselves! It is crucial that we don’t let that stress separate us.
By standing together, we can ensure the strike is as short as possible and that teachers receive the necessary resources to support the province’s students. We urge you to visit the Alberta Teachers’ Association’s Facebook page for the most up-to-date information about local events and opportunities to support striking teachers.
Click here to visit the ATA Facebook page.
Your union is here to support you as you navigate this challenging time. Don’t hesitate to reach out with any issues that come up.
Posted on: October 13,2025