The Alberta government’s recent use of a rarely used measure to intervene in labour disputes is a sign of what’s to come, says a labour policy professor.

Support staff with the Edmonton Public school division were set to strike on Thursday, but at the division’s request, the province has mandated that the union and division work with a disputes inquiry board.

Athabasca University professor Jason Foster, who specializes in labour history and policy, says it would amount to little more than a strike delay and a concerning level of government intervention in the bargaining process.

Similar to a mediator, a disputes inquiry board is a neutral third party that aims to work with both sides to come to an agreement when one can’t be reached through bargaining.

The government’s call for CUPE Local 3550 and the school division to work with the board means workers can’t go on strike for at least 30 days.

A similar situation played out last month in Fort McMurray, Alta., when the provincial government directly imposed the disputes board intervention — a tool Foster says he expects to be used much more often in the future.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 23, 2024.

Jack Farrell, The Canadian Press