CUPE3550

CUPE 3550 members who are educational assistants and support staff at Edmonton's Public schools division missed classes Thursday and joined a rally to protest against low wages and the province’s decision to approve a dispute inquiry board. It's been years since support staff have had a substantial raise and their jobs have become increasingly difficult and important.

This action by CUPE 3550 members may not be the last and there is growing support of educational assistants and support staff amongst the general public. Tensions are already high and will only increase until a settlement is reached. But, that is only the first of Edmonton's Public school's issues. CUPE 474, the union representing custodial staff at Edmonton Public schools voted overwhelmingly in favor of strike action last week, but they have not yet served strike notice.

Edmonton Public Schools (EPS) supportive staff who are members of CUPE 3550 served strike notice to Edmonton Public Schools on Friday. On Tuesday EPS applied for a dispute inquiry board (DIB) which was approved by the province meaning CUPE 3550 and the board are forced back to the bargaining table. CUPE 3550 has called support staff to a public protest at the Alberta legislature today and called on other CUPE locals to stand in solidarity with supportive staff members of CUPE 3550.

It appears there is general support for CUPE 3550 support staff members, especially from parents of high need students and other union members who do not agree with government interference and overreach in the collective bargaining process. There is no doubt that a strike would have serious ramifications for students, parents, teachers, CUPE 3550 members and Edmonton Public Schools.

Edmonton Public Schools' request for government intervention to halt a potential strike involving approximately, 3200 school support staff has disappointed CUPE Local 3550. CUPE Alberta president Rory Gill thinks the province is forcing employers to continue to come to the table with wages that are simply unacceptable. CUPE 359 members cannot strike and EPS cannot lock them out until the inquiry process ends, which could be up to 30 days.

Educational assistants, who work 35 hours a week, 10 months a year, earn an average of $27,000 a year, which leaves them struggling to pay the bills. This move by EPS and the government leads to next steps (see article below) but I think the overriding factor should be to pay the support staff for the value they provide for our children and schools.

Next in the negotiation line are the custodians, who can strike with 72 hours notice.

CUPE Local 3550 representing 3,152 members mainly comprised of educational assistants and support staff will hold an online strike vote on Wednesday. CUPE Local 474 representing 950 custodial staff will be holding their strike vote in-person on Thursday and next Sunday.

CUPE Local 3550 president Mandy Lamoureux said holding wages to the province’s cap of 2.75 per cent which works out to 70 cents over four years is “not enough”. CUPE Local 474 said it anticipates the same offer to extend the length of the contract made to Local 3550 when it returns to the bargaining table.

A strike by CUPE Local 3550 members would be disruptive but a strike by CUPE Local 474 members would probably shut down the schools.

Next up will be negotiations with Edmonton Public Schools' teachers.

More than 4000 public school support staff are preparing to hold strike votes as early as October 17 and 20 which have been designated as potential voting days. The 3,200 school support workers in CUPE local 3550 and 950 custodians in CUPE local 474 after more than four years without current collective agreements. Support workers contemplating job action include educational assistants, library technicians and administrative assistants.

Mandy Lamoureux, president of support workers CUPE local 3550 and Barry Benoit, president of custodians CUPE local 474 both say low wages and non-monetary issues have led to this impasse. If union members vote in favour of a strike, job action could begin 72 hours after notifying the school board to withdraw some or all of their services which would create havoc in publc schools around the city. Edmonton Public Schools's communication director, Carrie Rosa, said Edmonton Public Schools is working hard to reach an agreement with the union locals.

According to Justin Brattinga, press secretary to Alberta's finance minister, CUPE negotiates directly with school boards who get funding from the Province. The province has a formula which determines how much money each school board gets. School boards in in some urban and suburban divisions say the formula fails to provide enough money to keep pace with the rapid enrolment growth they are experiencing.