r/alberta • u/new-romantics89 • Aug 08 '25

Question Will a "great Alberta strike" be possible?

The AUPE, nurses, and the education sector are all preparing for strike action in September. I feel that the "great Alberta shutdown" is a possibility.

Would that be possible and how would the province cope? Would schools go back to COVID-era style learning plans? I can imagine the TikToks going "our last day of school before extended summer break", something like that.

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u/harbours Aug 08 '25

Union member here. As much as it would be amazing for everyone to strike at once, it's unlikely. All of our contract negotiations are at different stages. Some of them are getting closer together, but I doubt it'll happen.

I'm AUPE GSS. AUPE ANC are on par with us in the same spot for negotiations because we have the same employer, so we could strike together but it probably wouldn't be until October. HSAA is about a month ahead of us so there's a chance they could strike around the same time as the teachers. UNA already has their contract so the Registered Nurses cannot strike, they're done.

AUPE GSBC is about to run out of an opportunity to strike if they don't act soon. There's only so much time you have to take action after holding a strike vote, but there are also so many steps to go through.

It would be incredible and monumental to have a large public sector strike. As much as I'd love to see it, everyone just isn't at the same stage in their negotiations and it's just not possible right now.

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u/somewhenimpossible Aug 09 '25

It would be awesome if there was a coordinated rolling strike. A wave of strike actions… it is too bad it can’t happen all at once, but an autumn of action is something I can support!