CUPE local 3550 said after several town halls, members collectively decided to rally on Thursday morning in front of the Alberta legislature building
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Educational assistants and support staff at Edmonton’s largest school board are protesting against low wages and the province’s decision to approve a dispute inquiry board.
In a Wednesday night news release, CUPE local 3550 said after several town halls, members collectively decided to rally on Thursday morning in front of the Alberta legislature building. The decision boils down to low wages and the sustainability of the education system.
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CUPE local 3550 president Mandy Lamoureux said she understands the impact the Thursday rally will have on students and families without educational assistants and support staff in schools.
“Members did not come to this lightly. They do not feel this government is hearing their pleas to help instead of hinder. They need a fair agreement for themselves and for the students they serve,” Lamoureux said.
“It’s not fair for those students least able to advocate for themselves to be the victims of funding shortfalls. We can’t keep watching public education fall apart.”
CUPE local 3550 served strike notice to Edmonton Public Schools on Friday but on Tuesday the school board’s application for a dispute inquiry board (DIB) was approved by the province, which means both CUPE local 3550 and the board are forced back to the bargaining table.
Edmonton Public Schools superintendent Darrel Robertson said the board applied for DIB on Monday and said the intention was to provide an opportunity to return to the bargaining table to find solutions with a third party. In a letter to parents and families on Tuesday following the approval of the DIB, Robertson said the board remains “committed to reaching an agreement with CUPE local 3550.
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But even with the intervention of DIB, that does not guarantee that CUPE local 3550 will not strike if mediation is unsuccessful.
If a deal cannot be reached, the board will make a recommendation for settlement to Jobs, Economy and Trade Minister Matt Jones. Both parties will then have 10 days to notify the minister whether or not they have accepted.
In the event that either one or both of the parties does not accept the recommendation, the labour relations board will conduct a vote of the party that did not accept. If the recommendation is rejected again, workers can again declare a strike with 72-hour notice.
Custodial staff ponder strike
The labour relations board also approved the strike vote held by CUPE local 474, the union representing custodial staff at Edmonton Public Schools on Tuesday. The vote saw 97 per cent of members voting in favour of strike action. In-person voting took place Oct. 17 and Oct. 20, with 70 per cent voter turnout.
CUPE local 474 has not yet served a strike notice to the school board.
More to come.
X: @kccindytran
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