As the United Conservative Party (UCP) moved swiftly to introduce back-to-work legislation on Monday evening, tensions escalated between the Alberta Teachers’ Association and the provincial government. Outside the Alberta legislature, Jason Schilling, president of the teachers' union, expressed his dismay. "This is a sad day for teachers, this is a sad day for Albertans," he said. Schilling criticized the government for infringing on Charter rights, stating, "They should be ashamed of themselves, and they’re not. They’re going to move forward on this, and they’re going to use it again."

The UCP tabled Bill 2, known as the Back to School Act, shortly before 6 p.m. The legislation aims to end a provincewide teachers' strike that began on October 6. Under the new law, teachers who do not comply with the back-to-work order could face fines of $500. The bill also includes a proposed average pay increase of 12 percent over four years, which teachers have previously rejected. Additionally, it calls for the hiring of 3,000 new teachers and 1,500 teaching assistants to address the growing student population in Alberta.

Gil McGowan, president of the Alberta Federation of Labour, warned that the UCP has "declared war" on organized labor, not just in Alberta but across Canada. He stated, "If the government puts a gun to the head of the teachers and they’re not able to continue their strike, then we in the broader labour movement will stand where they’re not able to."

McGowan, who also chairs the Common Front—a coalition of 24 unions representing about 400,000 workers—indicated that unions across Alberta are prepared for a significant response. He noted that the Alberta Teachers’ Association and the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees are among the partners in this coalition. Sandra Azocar, the new president of AUPE, echoed McGowan's sentiments, calling Bill 2 a threat to collective bargaining rights. "The Alberta government’s use of the notwithstanding clause is reckless, authoritarian and ideological overreach," she said.

If the UCP invokes the notwithstanding clause to enforce the back-to-work order, McGowan stated that the Common Front would announce its retaliation plan on Wednesday. Union leaders have held emergency meetings to strategize, with another meeting scheduled for Tuesday. McGowan compared the current situation to historical labor movements, such as the Winnipeg General Strike of 1919, emphasizing the high stakes involved. "The stakes are just as high now as they were then," he said.

Teachers have been on strike since October 6, rejecting the province's offer of a 12 percent wage increase over four years, arguing that it does not compensate for a decade of stagnant wages amid rising inflation. The province has countered that the teachers' alternative proposal would have added $2 billion in costs to the $2.6 billion already pledged. Schilling refrained from commenting further until after the bill was officially tabled.

The unfolding situation highlights the growing rift between the UCP and labor unions in Alberta, as both sides prepare for potential confrontations in the coming days.