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For the first ti me in more than 100 years Albertans are talking about a general strike, inflamed by the provincial government's use of the notwithstanding clause to force striking teachers back to work.

The Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL) includes 24 unions, representing 175,000 workers. Its president, Gil McGowan, also leads a larger collective called Common Front , which has agreed to treat an attack on some workers' rights as an attack on all workers’ rights.

McGowan has said unions will encourage workers — who are incensed by the provincial government’s suspension of bargaining rights — to volunteer for recall campaigns and prepare for a possible general strike.

But what are the legalities around a general strike? What moves could the Alberta government take to stop it? And if it does go ahead, when should it happen?

Is a general strike legal?

A general strike is when workers across multiple sectors refuse to work. The general strike being proposed by the AFL would not be legal because it could not fulfil the requirements outlined by the Alberta Labour Relations Board.

The board conditions for a legal strike or lockout are:

Any collective agreement between the union and the employer must be expired.

The parties must enter into collective bargaining.

The parties must work with a government-appointed mediator.

A 14-day, co