Alberta teachers say class sizes a key issue in strike

In 2016, the Supreme Court of Canada confirmed the British Columbia Teacher Federation’s right to negotiate class size and composition.

With the Alberta Teachers’ Association and the government’s negotiator set to get back to the bargaining table on Tuesday, one sticking point for educators has been class sizes.

The most recent offer included COVID-19 vaccines for teachers, a 12 per cent salary increase over four years and a commitment to hire 3,000 new teachers over the next three years.

Recommended Videos

But it was voted down, with ATA members saying it didn’t address systemic issues, including class sizes, which teachers say have gotten worse.

Class size is a contentious talking point across Canada, one that’s even reached the Supreme Court of Canada. The court has ruled in favour