Fort McMurray educational assistants, school support workers vote to strike

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More than 1,000 educational assistants, librarians, IT workers, custodians, maintenance workers and other support staff at Fort McMurray’s public and Catholic schools have voted to strike on Sept. 17.

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The workers, who are represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), argue their wages have failed to keep up with rising costs of food, utilities, fuel and other services in northern Alberta.

Both unions say their members are burning out from working in crowded and understaffed schools.  Many members are working two to three jobs to pay their bills.

“Underfunding has created a crisis within our schools with overcrowded classrooms, lack of adequate supports for students and staff. Enough is enough. Our members are tired and do not feel valued. They all deserve a living wage so they can focus on the children,” said Danielle Danis, president of CUPE Local 2559, which represents workers in the Catholic system. 

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Local 2559 wants wage parity with their better-paid counterparts in the public board. Members have not seen a wage increase since 2015. They are demanding a $2 hourly increase for each of the next four years.

Their employer has countered with a 2.75 per cent increase, which the union says would amount to a $0.46 hourly raise for the lowest-paid workers.

Danis says most members are 10-month employees. When days off for Christmas and spring break, teachers’ conventions, summer and other breaks are subtracted, most members earn less than minimum wage.

Workers have been without a contract for more than four years. Negotiations were interrupted at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Talks with both CUPE Locals collapsed last month.

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CUPE Local 2545, which represents educational support workers in the public system, say their last wage increase was a 1.25 per cent boost in 2020. They ae proposing a $2 hourly raise for each year of a three-year agreement.

The union says the employer, guided by the Alberta Government’s Provincial Coordinated Bargaining Office, has countered with “a two-tier wage proposal” including hourly wage cuts ranging from $1.10 to $4.07 for newly-hired employees and no increases for existing staff.

“Everybody is exhausted and feeling undervalued,” said Lynn Fleet, president of CUPE Local 2545, in an interview.

“The government just isn’t interested in providing adequate funding to run a school.”

Both CUPE locals could not release the official results of the vote on Thursday as the results are still being ratified. However, Fleet said the results were “extremely high.”

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“If we were being graded on something in the schools, it would be an A+,” said Fleet.

“I’m very proud of our members. I give everyone an A+ and the results will show that once they are released.”

Schools will remain open during strike

Justin Brattinga, senior press secretary for Alberta Treasury Board and Finance Minister Nate Horner, said the labour dispute is between the unions and school divisions when asked for comment.

“CUPE locals bargain directly with School Boards, the province does not bargain with educational support staff. We encourage all parties to put students and education first,” he said in a statement.

Fort McMurray’s public and Catholic system have said schools will remain open. Superintendents for both divisions said in interviews before the start of the academic year they face larger classes, fewer staff and high enrolment. Both leaders argued the Alberta government’s funding formula for schools has failed them.

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A spokesperson for the public division declined to comment on Thursday. Natasha MacArthur-Poole, superintendent for the Fort McMurray Catholic School Division, said in a statement schools have contingency plans in place and expects the strike will have few impacts on students and families. However, she acknowledge some programming won’t be possible during a strike.

“Over many months, we have engaged in respectful negotiations with CUPE Local 2559. Despite these efforts and collaboration with a mediator, we have not yet reached an agreement,” said MacArthur-Poole.

“We are committed to bargaining in good faith, ensuring fair treatment for all, all while keeping our schools running as smoothly as possible.”

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vmcdermott@postmedia.com

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