Title: Alberta Teachers Face Financial Strain Amid Strike

EDMONTON — Adrien Dominguez, a math and science teacher from High Prairie, is not in the classroom this week. Instead, he is at home grappling with how to pay his bills during a provincewide strike that began Monday. Dominguez is one of about 51,000 teachers participating in the strike, which has left many educators without a regular paycheck.

"I know co-workers who lost dual incomes because they’re both teachers," Dominguez said. Some of his colleagues are considering returning to jobs in waitressing, bartending, and retail to make ends meet. Dominguez himself may have to resort to photography, marketing, or university tutoring, depending on how long the strike lasts.

The strike follows a prolonged dispute between the Alberta Teachers’ Association and the provincial government, primarily over wages and working conditions. The government’s latest proposal, which was rejected by teachers, included a 12 percent wage increase over four years and plans to hire 3,000 additional teachers to alleviate overcrowded classrooms. Premier Danielle Smith has stated that the government’s offer is fair and is open to further negotiations.

The strike impacts over 740,000 students across 2,500 public, separate, and francophone schools. A labor expert noted that this walkout is the largest in Alberta's history. Union president Jason Schilling mentioned that while teachers will not receive strike pay, their health benefits will remain intact. "Teachers know that they’re not receiving strike pay," Schilling said. "They didn’t take this decision lightly … and they’re willing to sacrifice some things."

Dominguez has a reserve fund for emergencies, but he worries it will not last long. John Varga, a teacher in Calgary, is also feeling the financial pinch. He and his wife, both educators, have started selling old bicycles from their garage to generate extra income. "It’s going to be a tight month," Varga said. He teaches computer science, physics, and social studies, and described the challenges of managing a class of 40 students with various learning disabilities. "Imagine that every day," he said, comparing it to a chaotic children’s birthday party.

Amy Bartlett, a special education teacher in Grande Prairie, faces additional challenges. She is looking for ways to earn money, such as selling animal skulls, but struggles to find childcare for her two school-aged children. Compounding her difficulties, her husband is set to be laid off from his job in the oil industry next week. "I’m just going to open my arms to any opportunity," she said. "I need to help pay my bills."

Bartlett, who has been teaching for four years, finds her job increasingly taxing. All 21 of her students have mild to moderate learning disabilities, and despite having three educational assistants, she feels some students still fall through the cracks. "I love my job," she said. "I love that I go to work and I come home every day knowing that I made a difference in someone’s life. But at some points, I have walked in and said, ‘If I continue to do this, I’m going to crash.'"

Bartlett challenged government officials to experience a day in her classroom. "If they actually put themselves in the shoes of a student who’s striving to become their best self, they’ll realize that something needs to change."