Edmonton educational staff walk off the job during dispute inquiry
Signs in support of CUPE Local 3550, the union representing Edmonton public school educational assistants, could be seen at a rally of thousands of Alberta unionized workers at the Alberta legislature on Oct. 24, 2024. (Evan Kenny/CTV News Edmonton)
Some Edmonton public school support staff walked off the job Thursday morning, after the province stepped in on Wednesday to prevent strike action.
Cupe Local 3550, which represents educational support staff in Edmonton public schools, said members chose to participate in a political protest against provincial wage mandates and what they called "interference in collective bargaining."
The Edmonton Public School Board (EPSB) confirmed in a statement that it was made aware Wednesday night that those educational support staff would not be coming to work the next day.
"After receiving this news last night, principals started making arrangements to support student programming and learning in the absence of support staff," EPSB wrote in a statement.
"In some circumstances this included contacting families of students who require support staff for safety reasons, advising them that for their safety, they should stay home."
CUPE Local 3550 members voted overwhelmingly in support of strike action on Oct. 18, after wage negotiations with the school board stalled.
EPSB applied for an Disputes Inquiry Board (DIB), a third-party process to help with bargaining, and was granted one by the province on Wednesday.
Because it was approved before strike action, members were prohibited from striking before the inquiry was complete.
CUPE Local 3550 president said Wednesday that the union disagreed with the DIB, calling it a delay tactic.
The union joined thousands of other Alberta unionized staff gathered outside the legislature building at a "rally for respect," with representation from nurses, provincial employees, public employees, paramedics, teachers, educational support workers and the University of Alberta.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Miriam Valdes-Carletti
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