Alberta Government Intervenes in Edmonton Public School Labour Dispute
The Alberta Government is again stepping in to resolve an ongoing labour dispute. This time they are intervening in the ongoing conflict between Edmonton Public Schools and their 3,200 support staff, represented by CUPE Local 3550. Last week, Union members voted 97 per cent in favour of strike action. Support workers with Edmonton Public were set to walk off the job on Thursday, October 24. However, the province has referred the matter to a Disputes Inquiry Board, again delaying any potential job action until the inquiry is complete.
This intervention mirrors a similar situation in Fort McMurray, where the government used the same process to halt a September 17th strike by support staff in the Fort McMurray Public and Catholic school divisions. Under provincial labour regulations, strikes or lockouts are not permitted while the Disputes Inquiry process is underway.
In Fort McMurray, the inquiry process took 30 days but failed to resolve the dispute. Support staff in Fort McMurray issued a letter to the Minister of Jobs, Economy, and Trades rejecting the board’s recommendations They are now awaiting approval for a new strike vote which they expect to come on October 25th. Pending the outcome of the second strike vote, workers intend to issue a second strike notice to both divisions.