EDMONTON — The head of the Alberta Teachers' Association declined Friday to commit to launching a provincewide strike despite last-minute contract talks with the province hitting the ditch.

ATA president Jason Schilling and his executive have been granted a mandate by 51,000 rank and file members to hit the picket lines, but must first give three days' notice.

Asked by reporters if a strike would be called, Schilling declined to answer directly, saying instead, "Ideally, we'd like to see a negotiated settlement that doesn't involve any kind of job action, but we have to see what ongoing negotiations or talks will come about."

The contract impasse comes as hundreds of thousands of students are set to return to classrooms next week.

Schilling emphasized it is up to the union's executives

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