School support workers at Parkland School Division begin limited job action

Limited job action at schools in Parkland County began Tuesday.

What is being described by the union as a “work to rule” strike means roughly 400 school support workers won’t be working overtime or volunteering for school activities.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) served the strike notice to the Parkland School Division (PSD) on Friday after workers voted 91 per cent in support.

The union says work-to-rule activities are part of a plan to escalate strike action involving striking educational support staff in Edmonton, Sturgeon County and Fort McMurray since January.

Union local president (CUPE 5543) Wendy Harman says the Alberta government has not acted to address wages of school support workers and it’s inexcusable to leave staff shortchanged.

The Parkland School Division told CityNews last week school days could continue without disruption so long as the labour action remained “work to rule.”

“But because the union has the ability to escalate labour action to a full strike without further notice, PSD is now in a situation in which we must implement contingency plans, which may have to be initiated beginning Tuesday, February 18th, 2025,” said a spokesperson for the school division,” a PSD spokesperson said.

Almost 2,000 more workers at four other school divisions in Alberta – the Edmonton-area Black Gold School Division and three Calgary school divisions – have taken strike votes but have not served strike notice.

–With files from the Canadian Press