Edmonton Public Schools could soon face a support staff strike as CUPE Local 3550, representing school support workers in the capital city has cleared the last hurdle for strike action to commence.
Following a process similar to the recent disputes the Fort McMurray Public and Catholic School Divisions, union members in Edmonton have rejected recommendations from a provincially mandated Disputes Inquiry Board. With a voter turnout of 87.3 per cent, members voted 83.6 per cent reject the provincial recommendations.
In Alberta, the average educational assistant makes $26,000 a year, according to CUPE. The union wants that boosted to around $40,000 a year.
With high inflation in recent years, the Alberta Living Wage Network pegs a current living wage in Edmonton at $22.25 an hour, which works out to about $45,000 a year for full-time.
Back in September, education workers in Fort McMurray tried to strike but the province enacted legislation to send them back to work. As part of that, the government appointed two Disputes Inquiry Boards to mediate.
CUPE Local 3550 is now in a position to issue a 72-hour strike notice, and they do not believe a second strike vote is required before job action can commence.
The union has indicated that no firm timeline has been established, leaving questions about the potential impact on schools when students return after the holiday break.
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