Educational assistants in Edmonton Public School District have voted to reject the latest wage increase offer from the disputes inquiry board, increasing the likelihood of a strike in the new year. While the vote outcome is not what the school division hoped for, they remain committed to reaching an agreement. Low staff, low retention and below-minimum-wage earnings have been at the forefront of negotiations since 2020.
WATCH: Edmonton Public School District education assistants have voted against the latest wage increase offer from the disputes inquiry board. That means a strike could happen in the new year. Jaclyn Kucey has the details.Educational assistants who work in the Edmonton Public School District have voted 84 per cent in favour of rejecting the latest wage cap offer from the disputes inquiry board.
CUPE Local 3550, the union that represents EAs, says this means a strike could happen in the new year if they can’t reach a fair deal. There is a bit of relief for parents going into the new year. Mandy Lamoureux, the president of CUPE Local 3550, confirmed with Global News that there will likely be educational assistants on staff for the first day of school when students return from Christmas break.For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.
Lamoureux said low staff, low retention and below-minimum-wage earnings have been the factors for bargaining since the two sides went to the table in 2020. The disputes inquiry board offered a 2.75 per cent wage cap; the union wants a number closer to 30 per cent.“Our members are working two to three jobs, going to food banks, struggling to buy Christmas gifts to put under the Christmas tree. We think they deserve a livable wage, and so they are fighting hard for that,” Lamoureux said. “If we can’t come up with a fair deal, then a 72-hour notice will be served at some point in the next month or so.
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