CUPE 3550 MEMBERS' "NOT A LOT" IS ASKING FOR TOO MUCH FROM UCP GOVERNMENT

Edmonton Public School support staff who are members of CUPE Local 3550 are on strike for higher wages. CUPE Local 3550 and the Edmonton Public Schools seem to have reached an impasse.

The Edmonton Public School board is maxed out and needs more funds from the provincial government to meet CUPE Local 3550's demands. Finance Minister Nate Horner says CUPE has accepted similar offers for thousands of workers across Alberta doing the same jobs so uses that to justify the government's refusal to add more to the coffers.

Another important factor is that all Edmonton MLAs are NDP members so it remains to be seen whether they can pressure the UCP government to reconsider their position.