Calgary Unions Take Note: Lessons from Ontario's Strike Success

Calgarians are seeing firsthand the power of collective action right here at home. While the province grapples with significant labour disputes, our city’s municipal employees recently secured a flexible work-from-home policy. This came after Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 38 negotiated a new three-year agreement, highlighting ongoing local union successes.

Across Canada, recent union victories offer powerful lessons. Consider Ontario in November 2022. CUPE Education Workers launched an intense, public-backed strike. They defied legislation that forced them back to work. This pressure ultimately led Premier Doug Ford to repeal Bill 28, a law that had used the controversial notwithstanding clause to prevent the strike.

Now, a similar scenario has unfolded closer to home. In October 2025, the Alberta government used the notwithstanding clause in Bill 2, the Back to School Act. This forced the Alberta Teachers' Association (ATA) back to work after a three-week province-wide strike. The ATA is actively challenging this legislation. For context, the notwithstanding clause, or Section 33 of the Charter, allows governments to override certain Charter rights for up to five years, preventing judicial review.

This provincial move has sparked strong reactions. Alberta Federation of Labour leaders are now mobilizing against the government, even discussing the potential for a general strike. This escalation underscores the high stakes for workers. Despite these challenges, Alberta's overall union coverage rate stands at just 24.9%, one of the lowest in Canada.

The Ontario outcome and the Alberta teachers' strike provide crucial playbooks for our local labour movements. Standing firm and building rapid coalitions can sway political decisions. These events are potent reminders of the enduring power of union solidarity and collective action for workers across Calgary.