As the teachers’ strike enters its second day, I’m seeing a different side of Alberta’s education story unfold. Walking through downtown Calgary yesterday, I spotted math teacher Kevin Henderson selling handmade jewelry at a sidewalk stand – something I’ve never witnessed during a weekday afternoon.
“Twenty-three years in education, and here I am selling pendants to make my mortgage payment,” Henderson told me, arranging his display of wire-wrapped stones. “But we’re standing for what’s right, even if it means picking up side gigs.”
This scene is playing out across Alberta as nearly 47,000 teachers participate in what’s become the province’s first-ever provincewide teachers’ strike. The Alberta Teachers’ Association initiated the strike after contract negotiations with the government reached an impasse over classroom conditions and compensation.
Walking through picket lines at several Calgary schools this morning, I heard similar stories from at least a dozen teachers who’ve turned to alternative income sources during the strike. Many are driving for ride-share services, selling crafts online, or offering private tutoring to help cover basic expenses while strike pay provides only partial financial support.
The Alberta Teachers’ Association provides strike pay of $165 daily after the fourth day of job action, leaving a significant gap for educators accustomed to salaries averaging around $300 daily. For many, especially those supporting families in Calgary’s increasingly expensive housing market, this creates immediate financial pressure.
“I’ve started dog-walking for neighbors,” said Emma Patel, a Grade 3 teacher at a southwest Calgary elementary school. “My husband works, but with two kids and our mortgage, we need every dollar we can get. I’m lucky – some of my colleagues are single parents facing much tougher choices.”
The economic ripple effect extends beyond teachers. Local businesses near schools report reduced foot traffic without the usual lunch crowds. At the Bridgeland Bakery, owner Samantha Chen told me sales have dropped nearly 30% since the strike began.
“Teachers make up a big part of our weekday business,” Chen explained while arranging pastries in her display case. “I support them completely, but this hurts small businesses too.”
According to economic data from the Calgary Chamber of Commerce, extended school closures can impact productivity across sectors as parents adjust work schedules to accommodate childcare needs. Some families report spending hundreds of dollars on emergency childcare arrangements.
Provincial Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides has stated that the government’s offer includes a 3% salary increase over three years, which he describes as fair given Alberta’s fiscal realities. However, ATA President Jason Schilling maintains that the dispute centers equally on classroom conditions and support for students with diverse learning needs.
“This isn’t just about our paychecks,” said veteran high school teacher Marcus Williams, who I found running a temporary math tutoring service from a local coffee shop. “We’re fighting for smaller class sizes and proper support for kids who need extra help. But bills don’t stop while we fight for better education.”
Williams showed me his tutoring schedule – already booked solid for the week – on his tablet while sipping coffee between sessions. The irony wasn’t lost on him: teaching privately to afford striking for better public education.
Education experts from the University of Calgary suggest that the increase in teachers’ side businesses highlights broader economic pressures facing education professionals. Dr. Amelia Rodriguez, education policy specialist, points to similar patterns in other regions where educator compensation hasn’t kept pace with cost-of-living increases.
“What we’re seeing is symptomatic of systemic issues in how we value education work,” Rodriguez explained during our phone conversation yesterday. “When highly educated professionals must supplement their income during labor disputes, it reflects deeper questions about sustainable compensation in essential public services.”
For Calgary parent Sara Mikhail, the strike creates mixed feelings. While supporting the drop-in daycare at her local community center yesterday, she expressed understanding for teachers’ position while wrestling with the disruption to her family’s routine.
“My daughter’s teacher drives Uber on weekends already, just to afford living in the same community where she teaches,” Mikhail said. “That’s not right. But as a healthcare worker, I’m scrambling to find childcare while still showing up for my patients.”
As negotiations continue, the economic pressures on striking teachers will likely intensify. Many I’ve spoken with say they’re prepared for a lengthy dispute despite financial hardships, believing the long-term stakes for Alberta’s education system outweigh their immediate personal challenges.
Back at his jewelry stand, Henderson adjusted his ATA button on his jacket as a customer examined his wares. “We’d rather be in our classrooms,” he said. “But sometimes you have to stand up for what matters, even when it hurts your wallet. Alberta’s kids deserve better than overcrowded classrooms and burnt-out teachers.”
Whether through driving, tutoring, crafting, or countless other side hustles, Alberta’s teachers are demonstrating that their commitment to education reform extends beyond picket lines – even as they count the financial cost of their historic stand.
