Parkland School Division reaches tentative deal with education support workers

Tentative deals have been reached with more Alberta school divisions, including one near Edmonton.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) says the 400 education support workers from the Parkland School Division could be back in the classroom Thursday after a tentative agreement was struck.

The workers will vote on the deal Tuesday afternoon, with results announced Wednesday.

Parkland educational support workers joined the province-wide strike Feb. 25 after one week of a “work-to-rule” state, meaning only working during hours they were getting paid for and not volunteering for extra school matters.

“Education support workers have shown great courage and determination,” CUPE Alberta President Rory Gill said in a statement. “I’m so happy for them that they have won the respect they deserve.”

A tentative deal was also reached between the union and the Calgary Board of Education (CBE), with workers there expected back in class Friday if the agreement is ratified.

CUPE says the agreements are like those negotiated in Edmonton and Fort McMurray. While the specific details of the settlements have not been made public, the union says they include pay increases and are valid through August 2028.

Members at Fort McMurray Public and Fort McMurray Catholic voted to ratify the collective agreements Monday, putting an end to a strike that began in mid-November.

Workers at Edmonton Public Schools are set to vote on their agreement Wednesday.

The newly announced tentative contracts do not cover the workers still on strike from the Sturgeon, Foothills and Black Gold school divisions.