EDITORIAL: Bad timing, bad faith — Alberta teachers must not be allowed to take our students hostage

It’s the last week of August. The backpacks are packed, the lunchboxes are labelled, and across Alberta, parents are bracing for the annual chaos of back-to-school. But this year, the chaos isn’t coming from the kids — it’s coming from the grown-ups who are supposed to teach them.The Alberta Teachers’ Association has walked away from the bargaining table just days before the school year begins, rejecting a deal that most working Canadians would call more than fair..Alberta government blasts teachers’ union for walking away from contract talks .The offer included a 12% salary increase over four years, plus a pledge to hire 3,000 new teachers across Alberta. That’s not just generous — it’s unprecedented. And yet, the union turned its back, demanding even higher wages and fewer new hires.This isn’t about classroom conditions or overcrowding. It’s about money. The union’s own bargaining team suggested that hiring fewer teachers would free up funds for even bigger paycheques. That’s not advocacy — it’s arithmetic. And it’s the kind of arithmetic that leaves students shortchanged..Teachers have been off since June. That’s two months of paid vacation, courtesy of taxpayers. They’ve had all summer to negotiate. Instead, they waited until the eleventh hour to walk away, knowing full well the disruption it would cause. This isn’t a labour dispute — it’s a hostage situation. And the hostages are Alberta’s children.Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides didn’t mince words, arguing that, “the union is only interested in playing politics with Alberta students by threatening to strike.”Finance Minister Nate Horner echoed the sentiment, calling the union’s move “deeply disappointing” and warning that public sector agreements must be financially sustainable..SIMS: Smith must be the Iron Lady and say 'NO' to wasteful spending.The numbers back him up. Alberta is staring down a $6.5 billion deficit. The proposed deal would cost $750 million over the life of the contract. That’s a serious financial contribution to "public" education. But the union wants more — and they’re willing to gamble with the school year to get it.This kind of brinkmanship should come with consequences. If the ATA follows through with its strike threat, it’s time for Alberta to consider penalties. No other public sector union would be allowed to hold families hostage like this. Parents deserve stability. Students deserve teachers who put learning ahead of leverage..Across Canada, families are grappling with inflation, rising interest rates, and economic uncertainty. Most workers haven’t seen a double-digit raise in years. Yet the ATA is demanding more, while rejecting a deal that already exceeds market standards.This isn’t just bad timing — it’s bad faith. The union’s refusal to make a counteroffer before walking away shows plain and clear that they’re not open to negotiating. They’re dictating, and Alberta’s families are paying the price..SLOBODIAN: Yet another Jewish senior randomly attacked — just another day in the new Canada.It’s time for the ATA to return to the table. Not with ultimatums, but with a willingness to compromise. The government has shown good faith. Now the union must do the same. Because in the end, this isn’t about politics. It’s about pupils. And they deserve better than a union that treats the classroom like a bargaining chip.If the ATA won’t put students first, then Alberta must. That means standing firm, enforcing consequences, and ensuring that the school year starts on time — with teachers in their classrooms, not on picket lines.