Alberta teachers could be ordered back to classrooms within 24 to 48 hours under back-to-work legislation the government plans to introduce Monday. The Back to School Act aims to end the lockout affecting 51,000 public, Catholic, and francophone teachers that began with a strike on October 6.

Mount Royal University HR professor Christian Cook said the bill would render strike action illegal, and teachers could face fines or other penalties if they refuse to return. Similarly, the legislation would end the employers’ lockout that started October 9.

The Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) has warned that the bill does not address the underlying issues behind the strike. Teachers are calling for pay increases that reflect rising inflation and measures to tackle challenging classroom conditions, including growing student numbers with complex needs and large class sizes.

Some school divisions said they await details from the government regarding when teachers must return. Schools are preparing for various scenarios, including the possibility of staff returning a day before students to organize classrooms.

ATA president Jason Schilling highlighted the need for legal mechanisms to regulate student-teacher ratios, noting Alberta is one of two provinces in Canada without such rules. Premier Danielle Smith suggested hiring more educational assistants as an alternative to class-size regulations.

Parents expressed relief that schools might reopen but worry that unresolved issues, such as overcrowded classrooms and teacher workload, could persist.

Critics have said back-to-work legislation infringes on workers’ rights to collectively bargain, though any legal challenges would not prevent teachers from returning while the case proceeds. All public-sector unions in Alberta are closely watching the impact on labour rights.