UCP government faults union ‘tactics’ as picketing school support workers gain momentum

Buoyed by warmer temperatures, strike action picked up among education support workers around the province, amidst Premier Danielle Smith’s repeated assertions of union strong-arm tactics, and union assertions that Smith’s not telling the whole story.

Some 400 education support CUPE workers at Parkland School Division moved from work-to-rule to full strike action Tuesday.

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They join about 6,000 other striking educational support workers in Fort McMurray, Edmonton, Black Gold in Leduc, Sturgeon, Calgary, and Okotoks.

CUPE Local 5543 vice-president Chrissy Nickel said the union is disappointed by the province’s failure to address strike issues.

“The purposeful underfunding of education has left classrooms without the support staff they need, directly impacting students — those with complex needs, those in mainstream classes, and those who require additional assistance to understand the curriculum,” Nickel said.

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Picket lines went up Tuesday at the Parkland School Division office in Stony Plain.

“We understand the impact this has on students, especially students with special needs,” said Nickel.

“However, students are being negatively affected by low wages, high turnover of staff, and vacancies in support positions. A good education requires well-paid, satisfied support staff.”

At a news conference, Smith declared 60 out of 67 collective agreements for education support workers across the province have already been settled for the period covering 2020 to 2024.

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“So there are seven that are outstanding. And the Canadian Union of Public Employees national allowed CUPE locals in 60 out of the 67 to accept a two-and-a-half to three per cent wage increase for the contracts that run from 2020 to 2024, for thousands of its other union members doing the exact same work as the seven locals that are currently on strike,” Smith said.

“I think the numbers I just gave to you, 2.5 per cent to three per cent in 2024 gives you some idea of a pathway to perhaps a settlement we’re looking forward in the future of what 2025, 26 and 27 might look like,” she said.

“But I would say that expecting that you’re going to have a settlement far, far, far outside of what has already been determined by 60 out of 67 collective agreements is part of one of the issues that we’re seeing, I hope CUPE will get back to the table, rather than blocking the actions of locals,” Smith said.

However, CUPE spokesperson Lou Arab said workers are bargaining for the current contract year and forward.

“While (Smith) is accurate, she’s not telling the whole truth. Sixty out of 67 bargaining units have settled. However, the CUPE groups that are in that seven, they’re being offered less than what everybody else was offered. And most of the CUPE groups that are on strike now are actually bargaining for the period after Aug. 31 2024, — they’re without contracts, and they’re bargaining for the period forward,” Arab said.

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‘Not very impressed with the tactics of CUPE’

Smith repeated assertions from earlier in the month that in Medicine Hat, after an agreement was signed, but before a vote could take place, CUPE deregistered the local.

A statement from Alberta CUPE president Rory Gill said Local 829 in Medicine Hat was put under administration for reasons unrelated to bargaining.

“The former executive chose to meet with the school district after being informed they were put into administration. Therefore the deal they signed has no force or effect,” he said.

Gill cited polling data showing UCP supporters don’t side with the UCP government when it comes to the strike and education issues.

In Monday’s news conference, Smith said the Alberta Labor Relations Board had to put in an injunction after CUPE picketers were reportedly blocking buses, and nurses were brought in to serve students before the nursing agency withdrew their services.

“So we’re not very impressed with the tactics of CUPE. We’d ask them to get back to the table,” she said.

Gill countered the government’s complaint.

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“There is no injunction from the Alberta Labour Board preventing picketing. Rather, CUPE and the school district entered into an agreement that picketing would not delay school buses. This is a normal part of the labour board’s role in helping unions and employers reach agreements during labour disputes,” he said.

Gill said a nursing service withdrew from offering services to Edmonton Public Schools after saying they didn’t realize they would be replacing striking workers.

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