EdmontonPublicSchoolsBoard

We're now into the second week of Edmonton Public Schools support staff strike and as you would expect the ripple effects are being felt by many. Students and families, especially special needs students and their families may feel it most. Diana Halabi’s twelve-year-old daughter Zahea is non-verbal and requires help with everything from the minute Zahea gets off the school bus until she gets back on it. Zahea can’t attend school in person because there is nobody to support her.

Both CUPE Local 3550 President Mandy Lamoureux and Alberta Teachers’ Association president Jason Schilling say they have heard similar stories from others. Lamoureux said the union got word Tuesday morning that the school board wants to return to the bargaining table as early as Thursday.

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' 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.

More than 1600 teachers braved the freezing cold on Sunday to overwhelmingly vote in favor of accepting on Edmonton Public school board's latest proposal and averting a strike. The proposal includes offers for improvements to five areas that teachers have told us are important to them.

Edmonton Public Schools spokesperson Veronica Jubinville and Heather Quinn, president of Edmonton Public Teachers local 37 are both pleased with the outcome of Sunday's vote. The next step is the board of trustees' ratification and then working on a new collective agreement.