EPSB support staff on strike outside 3 Edmonton schools: ‘We’re not asking for a lot’

More than 3,000 support staff workers at Edmonton Public Schools (EPSB) hit the picket line outside three schools on Monday.

The planned strike day concerns the workers’ salaries, which their union says have not increased in over a decade.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) says the average school support worker in Alberta earns $34,500 per year.

BACKGROUND: Support staff at Edmonton Public Schools set to strike Monday

“Our members are not able to sustain life right now,” said CUPE Local 3550 president Mandy Lameroux.

“We’re not asking for a lot. We’re just asking to be able to pay our bills, not have to hold a second job and not have to visit a food bank.”

The support workers, most bundled in coats and scarves while holding up signs and placards, took to the sidewalks outside Ross Sheppard School, M.E. LaZerte High School and Elder Dr. Francis Whiskeyjack High School in the morning.

Edmonton police warned there would be major traffic delays around the three schools until about 4 p.m.

“Motorists are advised to please exercise cautious driving at this time and to take alternate routes when possible,” EPS wrote in a news release.

Schools remained open, but the school board warned there could be interruptions or limited services. Parents may have trouble reaching the school office, for example, while cafeteria services might not be available.

The superintendents of both divisions have said each school will be affected differently and that parents should keep in touch with their school’s principal.

The union is being offered a 2.75 per cent raise retroactive to 2020, which equates to 1.25 per cent for 2023 and 1.50 per cent for 2024.

“It worked out to 76 cents an hour more for me is what it worked out for, I’m sorry 76 cents in 12 years, it’s not enough. I would much rather be at work right now letting my kids in the door,” said an educational support staff worker CityNews spoke to.

She says she’s had three raises over the last 20 years, and she’s not alone. Three thousand Edmonton public support staff workers walking off the job early Monday morning. From office administrators to those who work with students with special needs – saying the wage increases the school board is offering is not enough to keep up with high costs of living. 

Finance Minister Nate Horner has accused CUPE of being misleading, saying the union has accepted similar offers for thousands of workers across Alberta doing the same jobs as those in Edmonton.

“Going on strike is not a solution. CUPE blaming government is not a solution. It is not fair to workers who will have to live on strike pay and it’s not fair to the students who will miss out on valuable learning opportunities,” Minister Horner told CityNews.

Asked about Horner’s comments, Lameroux said her members are being reasonable in pursuit of a living wage.

“We’re not asking for trips to Mexico or a Mercedes,” she said, adding she hopes to return to the bargaining table to negotiate with the school board.

No one from the school board was available to speak to CityNews Monday, and EPSB referred CityNews to comments made by the superintendent Friday.

Darrel Robertson says they’ve stretched their budget as far as they can, but is hopeful the province will come through with funding in this year’s budget to meet a growing student population.

The roughly 200 support staff at Sturgeon Public School Division, covering schools north of Edmonton, were also on strike Monday.

School support workers include education assistants, cafeteria workers and administration staff.