Province ends Edmonton Public Schools EA strike as janitors also vote to quit their jobs

Less than two days before thousands of Edmonton Public School Board (EPSB) workers were set to walk off the job over what their union says are unsustainable wages, the Alberta government has stepped in to prevent that strike.

The province has appointed a dispute investigation committee to help the EPSB and its supporting union reach a collective agreement, according to a news release issued Tuesday afternoon.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 3550, which represents approximately 3,200 employees – the majority of whom are teaching assistants – has announced that strike action will begin at 7 a.m. on Thursday, October 24.

Edmonton Public Schools said they could resolve contract negotiations without a work stoppage. The division submitted an application to the province on Monday to set up a dispute committee (DIB).

“Because the dispute committee was established before the strike or lockout action began, the local union cannot strike and employers cannot lock out workers until the investigation process is completed,” said a statement from the Ministry of Employment, Economy and Trade.

Negotiations can continue as long as the dispute committee is present. EPSB said the process could take about 30 days depending on the circumstances.

“The Government of Alberta is providing a new mediator to the parties in this dispute to ensure the parties have every opportunity to reach a negotiated resolution before a work disruption occurs,” said a statement from Jobs, Economy and Trade Minister Matt Jones.

“I encourage both the union and the school division to work constructively with the mediator on an agreement to avoid disruptions to education and child care for children and families attending Edmonton Public Schools.”

Receive the latest national news

For news affecting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts sent directly to you as they happen.

It’s about respect, benefits and wages, the union said.

The same offer is on the table for both Local 3500 members and Local 474 members, who are custodians of EPSB.

The offer called for a 2.75 percent pay increase over four years – broken down as zero increases in the first two years of the collective agreement, followed by 1.25 and then 1.5 percent.

1:46
Edmonton Public School support staff plan to strike if an agreement isn’t reached

The majority of Local 3550 members are EAs, but the union also represents support staff such as clerks, administrative assistants, speech therapist assistants, librarians, food preparation staff, registered practical nurses and technicians.

The union says its teaching assistants in Edmonton’s public schools have seen little wage growth over the past 12 years and currently earn about $27,000 to $30,000 a year.

That’s lower than the wage considered livable in Edmonton.

According to the Edmonton Social Planning Council, a United Way member agency, the city’s living wage in 2023 was $22.25 per hour, or about $46,000 per year.

The living wage is defined as the hourly wage a worker must earn to cover basic expenses and have a modest standard of living, after government transfers are added and taxes are deducted.

If a settlement cannot be reached in the dispute, the province says the dispute inquiry committee will make a settlement recommendation to Minister Jones.

The advice is then forwarded to both parties, who have ten days to inform the minister of their acceptance of the advice.

If the parties accept the advice, the province says it will form part of a new collective labor agreement and that the dispute will be settled.

If one or both parties to a dispute do not accept it, the Alberta Labor Relations Board will hold a vote on the party that does not accept it.

If the recommendation is rejected again, the government says the parties could continue negotiations to reach a settlement, or strike or lockout action could begin after 72 hours.

EPSB’s janitors also vote to strike

The move comes as other Edmonton Public Schools employees have also voted to strike.

On Tuesday, CUPE Local 474 said there was a 70 percent turnout for EPSB prison workers and of those, 97 percent voted in favor of the strike action.

More than 900 prison staff who work for Edmonton’s largest school board are affected, CUPE said, adding that the Alberta Labor Relations Board confirmed the voting results.

No strike notice has been issued to Edmonton Public Schools, but a CUPE spokesperson said it could happen at any time. The union would have to give 72 hours’ notice before resigning from her job.

In an earlier statement to Global News, Edmonton Public Schools said if action is taken, contingency plans have been put in place and will be shared with families this week.

— With files from Jasmine King, Global News

&copy 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.