{"id":836243,"date":"2025-03-23T14:12:46","date_gmt":"2025-03-23T19:12:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/23\/ucp-government-faults-union-tactics-as-picketing-school-support-workers-gain-momentum\/"},"modified":"2025-03-23T14:12:46","modified_gmt":"2025-03-23T19:12:46","slug":"ucp-government-faults-union-tactics-as-picketing-school-support-workers-gain-momentum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/23\/ucp-government-faults-union-tactics-as-picketing-school-support-workers-gain-momentum\/","title":{"rendered":"UCP government faults union &#8216;tactics&#8217; as picketing school support workers gain momentum"},"content":{"rendered":"<article aria-labelledby=\"articleTitle\" data-wcm-id=\"14585793-6b7a-4ebd-88c2-f850c647a1a5\">\n<header aria-label=\"Beginning of Article\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>&#8220;So we&#8217;re not very impressed with the tactics of CUPE. We&#8217;d ask them to get back to the table,\u201d Smith said at a news conference Monday<\/p>\n<div>\n<p><span>Published Feb 25, 2025<\/span> \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 <span>Last updated Feb 26, 2025<\/span> \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 <span>4 minute read<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure data-aqa=\"featured-image\"><picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1200px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/mg_3976.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=564&#038;h=423&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=yqWE6dPegDJ36QOx2R5c6w, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/mg_3976.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=1128&#038;h=846&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=jafwdVJMAABp0OrwvD7N7A 2x\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1200px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/mg_3976.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=564&#038;h=423&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=YnAcf-hbywSeDEIpddgKEQ, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/mg_3976.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=1128&#038;h=846&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=kZO2W5ndK9eexP0JilV8Mg 2x\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/mg_3976.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=472&#038;h=354&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=dlQa48VkkLTmpFSNnRrvTA, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/mg_3976.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=944&#038;h=708&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=U-cqM_pNCvXVxA6K9ThzVg 2x\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/mg_3976.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=472&#038;h=354&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=z1TUhz0qIEfFgnpR9KzAaA, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/mg_3976.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=944&#038;h=708&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=g_6N-kpDjqjcJVSxzzKU7A 2x\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/mg_3976.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=288&#038;h=216&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=cvUJFVZlNuX3qrc4IGdQXw, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/mg_3976.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=576&#038;h=432&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=Y3F2yoD-RdjnKH5RWMACdA 2x\" type=\"image\/webp\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Black Gold School Division\" src=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/mg_3976.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=288&#038;h=216&#038;sig=gkvTsvV3U61N_sTXUW8dng\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/mg_3976.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=288&#038;h=216&#038;sig=gkvTsvV3U61N_sTXUW8dng,\n                    https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/mg_3976.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=576&#038;h=432&#038;sig=rTP8EK_tCA4a7uuzIrjEew 2x\" height=\"750\" width=\"1000\"><\/picture><figcaption><span>CUPE Local 3484 employees of Black Gold School Division walk the picket line along 50 Street in Leduc on Monday, Feb. 24, 2025, as 570 employees walked off the job joining more than 4,000 others on strike in Edmonton, Fort McMurray\u00a0and Sturgeon County.<\/span> <span>Photo by Shaughn Butts<\/span> \/<span>Postmedia<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<section>\n<p>Buoyed by warmer temperatures, strike action picked up among education support workers around the province, amidst Premier Danielle Smith\u2019s repeated assertions of union strong-arm tactics, and union assertions that Smith\u2019s not telling the whole story.<\/p>\n<p>Some 400 education support CUPE workers at Parkland School Division moved from work-to-rule to full strike action Tuesday.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section data-aqa=\"identity-sign-in\" data-async id=\"article-block\">\n<header>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Edmonton Journal\" height=\"37\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/18.2.2\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-ej-new.svg\" width=\"280\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n<p>Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters.<\/li>\n<li>Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account.<\/li>\n<li>Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.<\/li>\n<li>Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.<\/li>\n<li>Support local journalism.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n<p>Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters.<\/li>\n<li>Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account.<\/li>\n<li>Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.<\/li>\n<li>Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.<\/li>\n<li>Support local journalism.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n<p>Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Access articles from across Canada with one account.<\/li>\n<li>Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.<\/li>\n<li>Enjoy additional articles per month.<\/li>\n<li>Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n<p>Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Access articles from across Canada with one account<\/li>\n<li>Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments<\/li>\n<li>Enjoy additional articles per month<\/li>\n<li>Get email updates from your favourite authors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div data-auth-component id=\"auth-screen-form\" aria-live=\"assertive\">\n<h2>Sign In or Create an Account<\/h2>\n<p><span><\/span><span>or<\/span><span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>They join about 6,000 other striking educational support workers in Fort McMurray, Edmonton, Black Gold in Leduc, Sturgeon, Calgary, and Okotoks.<\/p>\n<p>CUPE Local 5543 vice-president Chrissy Nickel said the union is disappointed by the province\u2019s failure to address strike issues.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe purposeful underfunding of education has left classrooms without the support staff they need, directly impacting students \u2014 those with complex needs, those in mainstream classes, and those who require additional assistance to understand the curriculum,\u201d Nickel said.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>Picket lines went up Tuesday at the Parkland School Division office in Stony Plain.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe understand the impact this has on students, especially students with special needs,\u201d said Nickel.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHowever, 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.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<div aria-labelledby=\"EdmontonJournalHeadlineNews1379692176955656804866309960499200\" data-account-id=\"b9d3df2fccd108b5eff3c44f573b2cd6\" data-aqa=\"widget-newsletter\" data-newsletter=\"single\" data-newsletter-component data-target-list=\"EJ_HeadlineNews\" data-widget=\"newsletter\">\n<p>By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo 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,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI 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\u2019re looking forward in the future of what 2025, 26 and 27 might look like,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut I would say that expecting that you\u2019re 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\u2019re seeing, I hope CUPE will get back to the table, rather than blocking the actions of locals,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n<figure data-aqa=\"embed-image\"><picture><source data-srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Smith_Presser031-copy.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=564&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=Y2y-AWNB9G8SwL2eb1ysEQ, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Smith_Presser031-copy.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=1128&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=ibc_qJQNdt-8tc71fDu7Sg 2x\" media=\"(min-width: 1200px)\"  type=\"image\/webp\"><source data-srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Smith_Presser031-copy.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=564&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=lwvxfeQVqMXsxmapFnBEww, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Smith_Presser031-copy.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=1128&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=iAVSSU3jgOVcq-amgbjQCg 2x\" media=\"(min-width: 1200px)\"  type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source data-srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Smith_Presser031-copy.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=472&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=cB6Is-MZkUdspVVPZ_dXzQ, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Smith_Presser031-copy.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=944&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=CDclGEFbYy4mSEyDuwiKLw 2x\" media=\"(min-width: 768px)\"  type=\"image\/webp\"><source data-srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Smith_Presser031-copy.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=472&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=lRbsyjNJzDwU7bTBDZF0ag, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Smith_Presser031-copy.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=944&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=34rFUxSohIHjQG141b1szQ 2x\" media=\"(min-width: 768px)\"  type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source data-srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Smith_Presser031-copy.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=288&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=GQQuS1Va-8vKPPHiWIW13w, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Smith_Presser031-copy.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=576&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=--iS_HuzWXFNlw5KRqPv-w 2x\" media=\"(max-width: 767px)\"  type=\"image\/webp\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"mandatory drug treatment\" src=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Smith_Presser031-copy.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=288&#038;sig=jhEo1XIOo1Dd2aE9NX36tA\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Smith_Presser031-copy.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=288&#038;sig=jhEo1XIOo1Dd2aE9NX36tA,\n                https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Smith_Presser031-copy.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=576&#038;sig=HF5xr9mEvPwieUoGzRj4OQ 2x\" height=\"750\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1000\"><\/picture><figcaption><span> Premier Danielle Smith and Minister of Mental Health and Addiction Dan Williams announced the government\u2019s plan to build new addiction facilities in Calgary on Monday, Feb. 24, 2025.<\/span> <span>Photo by Darren Makowichuk<\/span> \/<span>Postmedia<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>However, CUPE spokesperson Lou Arab said workers are bargaining for the current contract year and forward.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhile (Smith) is accurate, she\u2019s not telling the whole truth. Sixty out of 67 bargaining units have settled. However, the CUPE groups that are in that seven, they\u2019re 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, \u2014 they\u2019re without contracts, and they\u2019re bargaining for the period forward,\u201d Arab said.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<h2>\u2018Not very impressed with the tactics of CUPE\u2019<\/h2>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>A statement from Alberta CUPE president Rory Gill said Local 829 in Medicine Hat was put under administration for reasons unrelated to bargaining.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe 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,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Gill cited polling data showing UCP supporters don\u2019t side with the UCP government when it comes to the strike and education issues.<\/p>\n<p>In Monday\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo we\u2019re not very impressed with the tactics of CUPE. We\u2019d ask them to get back to the table,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>Gill countered the government\u2019s complaint.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere 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\u2019s role in helping unions and employers reach agreements during labour disputes,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Gill said a nursing service withdrew from offering services to Edmonton Public Schools after saying they didn\u2019t realize they would be replacing striking workers.<\/p>\n<p data-async><span><a data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"in-page link\", \"anchor_text\": \"<span \n                data-original-string='Q1z5EC7ei3lDLg0NXaKcRg==7f4reek2WGE6TxIHmsxzNNHMmo47YGsCiEHkUb+r14ENYg='\n                class='apbct-email-encoder'\n                title='This contact has been encoded by Anti-Spam by CleanTalk. Click to decode. To finish the decoding make sure that JavaScript is enabled in your browser.'>jc<span class=\"apbct-blur\">*********<\/span>@<span class=\"apbct-blur\">*******<\/span>ia.com<\/span>&#8220;, &#8220;layout_section&#8221;: &#8220;in-page-link&#8221;}&#8221; data-evt=&#8221;click&#8221; data-evt-typ=&#8221;click&#8221; href=&#8221;http:\/\/edmontonjournal.com\/mailto:jc*********@*******ia.com&#8221; data-original-string=&#8221;cciOibAzk8B1Moe562PbmA==7f4dPxnM0fNMEBJE1HkzZQPpbNwWSMKkma+6N9R1Zy2el0=&#8221; title=&#8221;This contact has been encoded by Anti-Spam by CleanTalk. Click to decode. To finish the decoding make sure that JavaScript is enabled in your browser.&#8221;><span \n                data-original-string='IjatBA29SVzh5Yc684peIg==7f4+WMEUqBS+czALMoXF9olvA2EIZMkTFAzy56pcyR28Y8='\n                class='apbct-email-encoder'\n                title='This contact has been encoded by Anti-Spam by CleanTalk. Click to decode. To finish the decoding make sure that JavaScript is enabled in your browser.'>jc<span class=\"apbct-blur\">*********<\/span>@<span class=\"apbct-blur\">*******<\/span>ia.com<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<section aria-labelledby=\"moreTopicLabel6417104281743828371269081605603328\" data-aqa=\"embed-more-topic\" data-carousel-component data-carousel-icon-button data-carousel-type=\"list\">\n<p>Recommended from Editorial<\/p>\n<ol data-carousel-slide-list tabindex=\"0\">\n<li data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"data_source\": \"data_source\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"widget_title\": \"widget_title\", \"target_url\": \"target_url\", \"target_article_title\": \"target_article_title\", \"target_article_id\": \"target_article_id\", \"target_article_position\": \"target_article_position\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"widget-list\", \"data_source\": \"editorial\", \"anchor_text\": \"Alberta judge grants injunction blocking some students with special needs from attending school\", \"widget_title\": \"recommended-from-editorial\", \"target_url\": \"https:\/\/edmontonjournal.com\/news\/politics\/alberta-injunction-school-strike-cupe\", \"target_article_title\": \"Alberta judge grants injunction blocking some students with special needs from attending school\", \"target_article_id\": \"20432f5f-48d4-4263-a7df-4d2b5834064c\", \"target_article_position\": \"0\", \"layout_section\": \"recommended-from-editorial\"}\" data-carousel-item data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\"><a href=\"https:\/\/edmontonjournal.com\/news\/politics\/alberta-injunction-school-strike-cupe\"> <picture><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"An estimated 200 members of CUPE Local 4625, who are educational support workers and cafeteria workers at Sturgeon Public Schools, protest in Morinville in front of the Frank Robinson Education Centre on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025 \" src=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/mg_0973.jpg?h=96&#038;strip=all&#038;quality=80&#038;sig=uAHb--zqUdgcRRGxjMV6Tw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/mg_0973.jpg?h=96&#038;strip=all&#038;quality=80&#038;sig=uAHb--zqUdgcRRGxjMV6Tw, https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/mg_0973.jpg?h=192&#038;strip=all&#038;quality=80&#038;sig=YR07k19n22AY92hOLjyGuw 2x,\n                                             https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/mg_0973.jpg?h=288&#038;strip=all&#038;quality=80&#038;sig=LNx1_i0tSPMNJWPq6syJHw 3x\" height=\"96\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"96\"><\/picture>\n<p><span>Alberta judge grants injunction blocking some students with special needs from attending school<\/span><\/p>\n<p> <\/a><\/li>\n<li data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"data_source\": \"data_source\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"widget_title\": \"widget_title\", \"target_url\": \"target_url\", \"target_article_title\": \"target_article_title\", \"target_article_id\": \"target_article_id\", \"target_article_position\": \"target_article_position\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"widget-list\", \"data_source\": \"editorial\", \"anchor_text\": \"Crossing the line: Some support staff and educational assistants defy union as province doubles down\", \"widget_title\": \"recommended-from-editorial\", \"target_url\": \"https:\/\/edmontonjournal.com\/news\/local-news\/alberta-education-cupe-strike-picket-line\", \"target_article_title\": \"Crossing the line: Some support staff and educational assistants defy union as province doubles down\", \"target_article_id\": \"b4e33565-eb74-456a-9a2c-0ba9d742fa1d\", \"target_article_position\": \"1\", \"layout_section\": \"recommended-from-editorial\"}\" data-carousel-item data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\"><a href=\"https:\/\/edmontonjournal.com\/news\/local-news\/alberta-education-cupe-strike-picket-line\"> <picture><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Striking CUPE local 3550 members picket outside Ross Sheppard High School in Edmonton on Jan. 13, 2025. \" src=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/mg_0659.jpg?h=96&#038;strip=all&#038;quality=80&#038;sig=zawugZUxKWK2ispirZQn_g\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/mg_0659.jpg?h=96&#038;strip=all&#038;quality=80&#038;sig=zawugZUxKWK2ispirZQn_g, https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/mg_0659.jpg?h=192&#038;strip=all&#038;quality=80&#038;sig=wbLNV5Afk5Sm_RMJcj543w 2x,\n                                             https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/edmontonjournal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/mg_0659.jpg?h=288&#038;strip=all&#038;quality=80&#038;sig=wG40PkKAaDgG3W9hBzpjvQ 3x\" height=\"96\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"96\"><\/picture>\n<p><span>Crossing the line: Some support staff and educational assistants defy union as province doubles down<\/span><\/p>\n<p> <\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/section>\n<hr>\n<p data-async><span><i><strong>Bookmark our website and support our journalism:<\/strong> Don\u2019t miss the news you need to know \u2014 add <\/i><a data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"target_url\": \"target_url\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"in-page link\", \"anchor_text\": \"EdmontonJournal.com\", \"target_url\": \"http:\/\/edmontonjournal.com\/\", \"layout_section\": \"in-page-link\"}\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" href=\"http:\/\/edmontonjournal.com\/\"><span><i>EdmontonJournal.com<\/i><\/span><\/a><i> and <\/i><a data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"target_url\": \"target_url\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"in-page link\", \"anchor_text\": \"EdmontonSun.com\", \"target_url\": \"http:\/\/edmontonsun.com\/\", \"layout_section\": \"in-page-link\"}\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" href=\"http:\/\/edmontonsun.com\/\"><span><i>EdmontonSun.com<\/i><\/span><\/a><i> to your bookmarks and <\/i><a data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"target_url\": \"target_url\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"in-page link\", \"anchor_text\": \"sign up for our newsletters\", \"target_url\": \"https:\/\/edmontonjournal.com\/newsletters\/\", \"layout_section\": \"in-page-link\"}\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" href=\"https:\/\/edmontonjournal.com\/newsletters\/\"><span><i>sign up for our newsletters<\/i><\/span><\/a><i>.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n<p data-async><span><i>You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. <\/i><a data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"target_url\": \"target_url\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"in-page link\", \"anchor_text\": \"The Edmonton Journal\", \"target_url\": \"https:\/\/edmontonjournal.com\/subscribe\/\", \"layout_section\": \"in-page-link\"}\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" href=\"https:\/\/edmontonjournal.com\/subscribe\/\"><span><i>The Edmonton Journal<\/i><\/span><\/a><i> | <\/i><a data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"target_url\": \"target_url\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"in-page link\", \"anchor_text\": \"The Edmonton Sun\", \"target_url\": \"https:\/\/edmontonsun.com\/subscribe\/\", \"layout_section\": \"in-page-link\"}\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" href=\"https:\/\/edmontonsun.com\/subscribe\/\"><span><i>The Edmonton Sun<\/i><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/edmontonjournal.com\/news\/local-news\/danielle-smith-ucp-government-cupe-school-strike\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;So we&#8217;re not very impressed with the tactics of CUPE. We&#8217;d ask them to get back to the table,\u201d Smith said at a news conference Monday Published Feb 25, 2025 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated Feb 26, 2025 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 4 minute read CUPE Local 3484 employees of Black Gold School Division walk the picket line along 50<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":836244,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[95540,284],"tags":[107011,5170],"class_list":{"0":"post-836243","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-faults","8":"category-government","9":"tag-faults","10":"tag-government"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/836243","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=836243"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/836243\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/836244"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=836243"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=836243"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=836243"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}