Educational support workers in Fort McMurray begin rolling strikes

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Hundreds of people spent Wednesday and Thursday rallying in downtown Fort McMurray as educational support and maintenance workers marked the start of a rolling strike. The protesters have vowed to continue striking until a deal is made with the Fort McMurray public (FMPSD) and Catholic (FMCSD) school divisions.

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The first protests were at the corner of Hospital Street and Franklin Avenue, outside Our Lady of the Rivers Catholic School and Dr. K.A. Clark Public School. Starting Nov. 18, rolling strikes will hit three to six different schools daily. Organizers estimate more than 800 staff and supporters rallied throughout the day on Wednesday.

“The turnout and community support for us has been great. Some parents even stayed with us this morning after dropping their children off and joined the protests,” said Lynn Fleet, president of CUPE Local 2545, which represents public school staff.

“We’re going to have a nice, lovely scab board with peoples’ photos,” said Danielle Danis, president of CUPE Local 2559, which represents Catholic school staff.

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The strike comes after months of failed negotiations between the school divisions and the union representing more than 1,000 educational assistants, librarians, administrative and maintenance staff, and custodians.

CUPE Local 2559 members have not had a raise since 2015. Members of CUPE Local 2545 were last given a slight 1.25 per cent raise in 2020. CUPE argues pay has not kept up with inflation, and workers have overwhelmingly rejected offers on two occasions.

CUPE says many members earn annual salaries below minimum wage after breaks during Christmas, March Break, summer and professional learning days. It is becoming common for the workers to hold second jobs or turn to the Wood Buffalo Food Bank for help.

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CUPE says members are exhausted from working in schools they say are crowded, poorly staffed and badly funded. The Catholic and public superintendents have made the same arguments in separate, unrelated interviews.

However, striking workers accused FMCSD and FMPSD leaders of not doing enough to lobby the Alberta government for improved funding and better classroom conditions.

Devante Hobbs, an EA at Father Mercredi Community High School, says his Grade 8 class has 39 students. Other classes at the school have more than 40 students. Hobbs said this is not sustainable for staff or students.

“The Alberta government has neglected education for this long and what you’re seeing today is the culmination of that neglect,” he said.

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Nicole Spring, an EA who works with special needs students at Thickwood Heights School, said it has been well known among educational leaders that burnout has pushed many workers out of the profession. Spring said the COVID-19 pandemic worsened staff burnout as more students were diagnosed with emotional and mental health issues.

“Help us lobby the people who can get us the money. The money is there, the province has it. I want to see the districts and the trustees, who were elected, to advocate for education and we’re not seeing that. Don’t make excuses when you can help fix the problem,” said Spring.

Both school divisions have contingency plans to keep schools open during the strike. However, some programming and services will need to be modified or postponed. Families of some special needs students have been asked to keep children home on strike days.

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FMPSD says CUPE’s demands are “fiscally impossible,” and would cost $7.8 million retroactively and $3.4 million this year. FMPSD’s financial reserves are dwindling while FMCSD’s operating reserves ran dry at the end of the last school year.

FMPSD trustees have voted in favour of locking out striking staff, but have not served them with this notice. FMCSD has not commented publicly on CUPE’s demands, although the union says the division also says it cannot afford their demands. Its trustees have not pursued a lockout.

Protesters scoffed at these arguments and mocked the FMPSD for hiring security to stand watch outside Dr. K.A. Clark School.

“There’s a lot of wasteful spending and it’s funny when they need to find it for people at the district office and create positions, they find the money,” said Danis.

“There’s always money for management,” said Fleet.

Both school divisions have not commented on the strike since protests began Wednesday. Requests for comment were not answered by deadline.

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vmcdermott@postmedia.com

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