FORT MCMURRAY, Alberta — Unrest among school support staff continues to simmer. Local CUPE education workers and their supporters held an Education Day of Action on Saturday. Similar rallies took place in Calgary, Edmonton, Drumheller, Okotoks, and Leduc, as CUPE members and allies across Alberta gathered to send a message to the province in response to the government’s recent decision to halt a pending strike by convening a Dispute Inquiry Board.
Held at Kiyām Park, Education Assistants, Custodians, IT workers, and other support staff from both Catholic and Public-School Divisions were joined by a group of concerned parents from the informal organization “Don’t I Matter.” The group is made up of parents and caregivers whose children require or need special accommodations for their education, including one-on-one support from Education Assistants.
Group founder Cagney Edwards, whose 10-year-old son is on the Autism Spectrum, spoke to cheers from the over 100 people gathered in solidarity with CUPE members. Edwards said she and other parents have to fight for services for their children on a daily basis. She added that the government often views special needs children as a hindrance and inconvenience. The group is calling for greater provincial funding for education services.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Alberta’s Ministry of Education says the Government of Alberta does not bargain with CUPE, and the matter of wages and staffing is up to local school boards.