Students across Alberta left their classrooms on Thursday to rally at the provincial legislature, protesting the government’s decision to force striking teachers back to work. Many wore red clothing and carried homemade signs to show solidarity with educators.

The walkouts, coordinated through social media, spread to several schools as students voiced frustration with what they described as an attack on teachers’ rights. The demonstrations followed the provincial government’s move to fast-track a back-to-work bill through the legislature earlier this week.

Premier Danielle Smith’s government invoked the Charter of Rights and Freedoms’ notwithstanding clause to enact the legislation, effectively limiting teachers’ right to strike and shielding the bill from legal challenge. Officials have argued the teachers’ strike was causing serious harm to students’ education.

The Alberta Teachers’ Association, representing roughly 51,000 educators, said the government’s actions set a troubling precedent and undermine collective bargaining rights. The union has called for public dialogue rather than legal restrictions to resolve the dispute.