4,000 Edmonton public school support staff vote in favour of strike action

Around 4,000 support staff of the Edmonton Public School could soon be heading to the picket line as members of CUPE Local 3550, representing the staff, voted to strike.

The union posted the unofficial results on Facebook, stating that of the 92 per cent of members who voted, 97 per cent voted in favour of strike action. 

The virtual voting began on Wednesday, after negotiations stalled with the school board. The union said the wage rates being offered are not enough to address the gap arising from higher costs of living, higher workloads, and ongoing understaffing.

In a news release on Wednesday, CUPE said the Edmonton Public School board made a verbal offer to extend the contract from four years to eight years. Unfortunately, nothing changed in the employer’s position to hold wages to the provincial government’s cap of 2.75 per cent over the first four years.

“That’s about 70 cents over four years,” said President of CUPE Local 3550 President Mandy Lamoureux. “It’s not enough.” The wage rate proposed for the additional four years also fell far short of being sufficient to correct the gap in wages that has developed over the last decade.

CUPE local 474 representing 950 custodial staff are holding their strike vote in person on October 17 and 20.

The workers want more money than what is being offered by the Edmonton public school board. They also want a shorter contract than what is being offered by public school leaders.

There is no current plan for when the school support staff would leave their jobs to walk a picket line. And when asked, Edmonton public school board officials would not say whether schools would be closed should a strike occur.

The results of the strike will have to be approved by the Alberta labour board before becoming official.