WAINWRIGHT, ALBERTA – Two groups of rural education workers in east central Alberta have taken strike votes. CUPE 1606, which represents 250 workers at the Buffalo Trail School Division and CUPE 5352 representing 125 workers at East Central Catholic School Division have both completed successful votes to strike.
Neither group has announced plans to serve 72-hour strike notice, however, CUPE has been notified that Buffalo Trail School Division may serve lockout notice.
Both school divisions cover the communities of Wainwright, Vermillion and other parts of east central Alberta.
Nine other groups of education support staff, 6,600 workers in total, are on strike in Fort McMurray, Edmonton, Sturgeon, Parkland, Black Gold, Calgary and Foothills School Division. Employees of Grande Yellowhead School Division also took a recent strike vote, but have not announced strike notice yet.
The main issue is wages and funding of education. The average education support worker makes just $34,500. Alberta has the lowest per capita education funding in Canada.
“The government is using fear and intimidation as bargaining tactics,” said CUPE 1606 President Trish Thomas. “They are trying to bully us into accepting a deal that is not in the best interest of our members or students.”
“A good education requires well paid, satisfied support staff,” said CUPE 5352 President Coree Girard. “We don’t want to strike, but we need to take action to protect students.”