Faced with a barrage of complaints from angry parents, the Alberta government ordered striking teachers yesterday to return to their classrooms today.
Learning Minister Lyle Oberg said the walkout -- which lasted 13 school days in some regions and was the largest teachers strike in Alberta's history -- had become a public emergency that jeopardizes the academic year for thousands of students.
"Government must take action on behalf of these students. Every day that passes makes it that much more difficult for students to pick up where they left off and get their studies back on track," he said.
The Alberta Teachers' Association, which is advising its members to report for work, plans to challenge the back-to-work order in court and warned that teachers could again walk off the job.
"We will not lightly surrender our right to strike," ATA president Larry Booi said. "We see no evidence of an emergency."
Mr. Booi said that teachers, using other means, will continue their fight for higher wages and better classroom conditions. But he would not reveal how the protest would affect classrooms and extracurricular activities.
New Democrat Leader Raj Pannu called on Mr. Oberg, who ruled out more money for education, to resign and "take the responsibility for the mess" in schools. He said the government's announcement -- which includes giving teachers and school boards three weeks to negotiate new contracts or submit to binding arbitration -- is inadequate.
As of yesterday, 21,000 of the province's 32,000 teachers in 22 of 61 bargaining units were on strike, affecting 357,000 of 550,000 students. The walkout, which began on Feb. 4, grew as time passed. On Tuesday, Calgary public teachers joined the strike.
Mr. Oberg and Human Resources and Employment Minister Clint Dunford said teachers who have been on strike only a few days are covered by the order because the law allows the government to declare a public emergency on the basis that "unreasonable hardship is being caused or is likely to be caused."
On Tuesday, Mr. Oberg and Mr. Dunford said the situation was not yet an emergency and called on deadlocked teachers and school boards to resume negotiations. Most did not. They also asked parents to provide the government with evidence of the walkout's effects.
Mr. Oberg, who said the strike was especially detrimental for Grade 12 students and those with special needs, said there was an "exponential" increase in calls to his office with "hardship stories" that solidify the government's case against the expected ATA appeal.
On the recommendation of Mr. Oberg, the cabinet yesterday declared the strike a public emergency causing "unreasonable hardship" to third parties, such as students, parents and support workers. Lieutenant-Governor Lois Hole signed an order-in-council declaring an emergency in all 22 school districts and ordering an end to the walkouts.
Mr. Dunford gave the parties in the districts, which negotiate contracts locally, until March 15 to agree to new deals. If that fails, the disputes will be referred to a one-person tribunal led by Toronto-based arbitrator Morton Mitchnick, who will conduct hearings for each region and issue binding settlements.
Jill Mahoney