Horner: Union not presenting EPSB’s offers to striking support staff

The Alberta government is claiming national union leaders are using “fear and intimidation” to interfere with negotiations in the strike by Edmonton Public School Board education support staff.

It’s the latest round of finger pointing involving the province, school board and union, as more than 3,000 EPSB support staff workers demanding better salaries remain on strike. Many students with special needs are not attending class during this strike.

According to EPSB – in a letter sent to parents Wednesday – the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) is asking for a six-year deal with a 31 per cent increase to hourly wages.

EPSB claims its wage increase offer, when combined with enhancements, is 23 per cent.

But Alberta Finance Minister Nate Horner, in a statement sent to CityNews late Wednesday, says that offer was never presented to striking workers for a vote.

“Members are not getting timely, accurate information from union leadership and so to help inform their staff, school districts have started posting online what has been offered,” Minister Horner wrote.

“CUPE members need to ask their leadership why significant, meaningful wage increases aren’t being brought to them for consideration. And members considering going on strike should be asking themselves why their union leadership is encouraging this action.

“It’s unfortunate that CUPE leadership isn’t letting its members make their own decisions.”

While staying away from bargaining directly – Alberta maintains a deal must be reached between the school board and union – Horner has repeatedly 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.

But CUPE says the offers mentioned in the EPSB’s letter were never actually tabled.

“They’re misrepresenting what happened at the bargaining table and they’re hurting students in the process,” CUPE Local 3550 told CityNews. “They need to be honest with parents. The provincial government needs to step up.”

More strikes on the way?

Support staff at the Sturgeon Public School Division and in Fort McMurray are also striking, with more unions across the province now scheduled to hold a strike vote next week – including two in Calgary.

Horner is claiming CUPE is driving members to vote when they “already settled for the same wage increases offered to those currently on strike.”

“It’s unfortunate that CUPE National are continuing to encourage school support workers to strike,” he wrote.

In response, CUPE Alberta president Rory Gill said, “Nobody wants to strike. But we have to fight for better learning, better wages, and better outcomes for students.

“Members are pushing to strike because of the worst education funding in Canada, and a 10-year period without wage increases.

“If the Alberta government doesn’t take action soon, and better fund schools, other districts in the province will soon see job action.”

Alberta’s finance minister is claiming CUPE won’t set meeting dates for further discussions.

“This union’s actions are harming students and our communities,” he said.