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FORT MCMURRAY — The Canadian Union of Public Employees is backing the Alberta Teachers’ Association in its ongoing labour dispute with the Alberta government.
Lou Arab, speaking on behalf of CUPE and Locals 2559 and 2545, which represent support staff including educational assistants in the Catholic and public school divisions, said support staff are continuing their work despite the strike, but that could change if the job action continues.
“What’s most important is that we get children back into schools, and the province needs to cut a deal that sees more resources in classrooms,” said Arab.
“Education support workers are near unanimous in what teachers are trying to achieve. We see firsthand their dedication to the students.”
Last year, both locals experienced a labour dispute with their respective school divisions that lasted several months and hit CUPE members’ pocketbooks, particularly in Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo, which endured the longest work disruption of support staff in Alberta. The dispute surpassed the CUPE strikes in Edmonton and Sturgeon County.
“Our workers are facing uncertainty,” said Arab. “For now, there is no notice of layoff at the moment.”
While Arab said CUPE supports the government’s promise to hire 1,500 new educational assistants, he noted the province had previously promised to hire 3,000 during the recent provincial election and that has yet to materialize. He added that members sometimes retire or move and questioned whether 1,500 new hires would be sufficient.
“Alberta has the lowest per student education funding in all of Canada, and that needs to change,” Arab added, further stating CUPE’s support for their striking colleagues is near unanimous.
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