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The CUPE Alberta Library Employees’ Committee is devastated to see that Bill 28 has passed.

Bill 28 requires the segregation of public library material with content that is deemed “visually explicit”. It also mandates parental permission for youth under 16 to borrow them. Government-appointed inspectors will have the authority to investigate libraries, which raises concerns about political overreach and enforcement.

This bill will affect all library users. It will create barriers to collections and can cause a sense of guilt or shame if users want access to the materials. Age verification will add another element of restriction. It also means that it will take longer to access your library materials. This takes away the ability to quickly browse the shelves and explore collections. Restrictions like this are a direct violation of our intellectual freedom. The government shouldn’t be the ones telling us what we can read, watch, or listen to.

The legislation comes with no funding. It is expected that libraries will need to undertake costly renovations to comply. This could mean creating areas inaccessible to users, storing “visually explicit” books behind counters, splitting collections, and changing the catalogue. Accessing these materials might need specific staff to verify ages. These changes would mean adding more workload to already overworked staff.

The Libraries Act only allows inspection of board records. Bill 28 expands this to the collections, services, and operations of our public libraries. Public libraries are already governed by elected Boards and staffed with capable and qualified library workers. There are already policies and procedures in place at Alberta libraries which address book bans and challenges, and access to information. We disagree that the Minister should be able to appoint inspectors to enter our public libraries, inspect, and restrict what the public can access, use, or borrow.

If you believe the government has overreached and should not restrict free access to information, please send a letter to your MLA.  

“Perhaps no place in any community is so totally democratic as the town library. The only entrance requirement is interest.” – Lady Bird Johnson

The following delegates were elected: 

Alberta NDP leader Naheed Nenshi and five of his MLAs visited the CUPE Alberta convention. In his remarks, promising that if the NDP is elected, education funding will go from worst in the country to first.  

“We are going to take back Alberta,” said Nenshi.  “We will fix health care, go from having the worst funded to best funded education system in the country.” 

We will have a government that respects municipal government, respects people, and respects public services.” 

Nenshi praised CUPE Alberta’s “Health Care Crisis” campaign, calling it “one of the most effective things I’ve ever seen,” saying it is bringing out thousands of stories and that it is ‘helping to bring this government down.”

CUPE will put $500,000 into a campaign to punish the Danielle Smith government for using the notwithstanding clause against workers and others. 

Secretary Treasurer Candace Rennick made the announcement at CUPE Alberta’s convention. Rennick said the union decided to contribute to a campaign with the Canadian Labour Congress.  

“Danielle Smith used the notwithstanding clause against Alberta teachers to end their strike and trample their constitutional rights. And there is no doubt that she will use it again,” said Rennick. “But there must be consequences for stepping on fundamental rights. Consequences on the streets, and most importantly, consequences at the ballot box.” 

Rennick said governments that weaken public services, who roll back rights, and who try to divide workers can be defeated, but only if CUPE is ‘all in.’ 

“Every local, every sector, must step up. Every local must engage every member, every day. And the national union must not only be there to lead and support – it must coordinate, strategize, and stand shoulder to shoulder with every local to ensure no one is left behind.” 

Rennick noted that CUPE added 8.5 new permanent positions in Alberta over the last five years, compared to just five new positions in the previous ten years.  

“These investments ensure that locals, sectors, and members have resources, support, and leadership to organize, campaign, and defend public services.”

Reaching into labour history to find lessons for today, CUPE President Mark Hancock told delegates that unions have faced difficult times before and come out stronger for it. 

“Some of the greatest achievements that organized labour has ever won came during moments of turmoil – just like the one we find ourselves in right now,” said Hancock.  

Hancock pointed to battles after the first and second world wars when unions didn’t have the legal recognition they have today, but still won bargaining rights, the Rand formula, pensions, health care, and basic health and safety standards. 

“It wasn’t easy,” said Hancock. “So many leaders and activists before us were fired, jailed, assaulted, even murdered.” 

Hancock noted that in the last year alone, both the federal and Alberta governments took multiple actions to rob workers of rights we’ve enjoyed for decades. 

“Mark Carney didn’t hesitate to shred our members’ Charter rights during the Air Canada strike last summer. And he won’t lift a finger to defend public health care and our public services while they’re under attack right here in Alberta as we speak.” 

“The UCP is busy pushing dangerous schemes that nobody asked for and nobody wants, like pulling Alberta out of the CPP and playing footsy with Maple MAGA Trump wannabes who want to split our country apart.” 

Hancock said that being a trade unionist in a time of ‘right-wing lunatics’ means acknowledging the challenge and never giving up ‘on the fight for a better future.’ 

Referring to the safety of workers as “not optional,” Hancock noted that the death of CUPE member Deborah Onwu in 2019 led to four judicial recommendations that the UCP government has still not acted on. 

“We owe it to people like Deborah Onwu and her friends and family – and far too many others who have lost loved ones because of violence in our workplaces,” said Hancock, “We owe it to them to fight like hell.” 

Hancock ended with an appeal to delegates to not be fooled by Danielle Smith’s attempts to divide workers with ‘non-stop culture wars and manufactured outrage.’ 

“When governments fail to solve real problems that they’re responsible for creating – they start looking for somebody else to pin the blame on. Blaming newcomers and other vulnerable folks just lets her off the hook.” 

EDMONTON – A survey of 93,000 Albertans conducted by the provincial government has a very clear message: don’t touch the Canada Pension Plan (CPP). The results were released by the government after a lengthy request for information by the Edmonton Journal.

CUPE Alberta President Raj Uppal says she was not surprised the survey showed 63% opposition to leaving the CPP, and only 10% support for an Alberta plan.

“There is no case for leaving the CPP,” said Uppal. “An Alberta plan would cost more, and deliver weaker investment returns and smaller pensions.”

Uppal called on the UCP government to abandon all plans to take Alberta out of the Canada Pension Plan.

“I know Danielle Smith likes to flirt with separatists, but the Canada Pension Plan is one of the strongest reasons for Alberta to remain in Canada. The Premier needs to abandon this idea and stop threatening the retirement security of Albertans.”

EDMONTON, ALBERTA – CUPE Alberta is sounding the alarm over a looming crisis in the province’s K–12 education system as hundreds of educational assistants (EAs) across the province face job losses following the withdrawal of most of the federal Jordan’s Principle funding for non-reserve schools.

Jordan’s Principle is a federal policy intended to ensure First Nations children receive the services they need without delay, including in education, health care, and social services. In Alberta, this funding has helped support educational assistants in public schools, benefiting both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students.

In a powerful open letter sent to Minister of Education and Childcare Demetrios Nicolaides, Wendy Harman, President of CUPE 5543, warned that the cuts would be “catastrophic” for students with complex learning needs, behavioural challenges, and those on Individualized Education Plans.

“This will devastate our Alberta schools,” wrote Harman. “Now, we are actively choosing to let more children fall through the cracks, and those cracks are growing into chasms.”

Harman cited alarming figures from Parkland School Division, where some schools will see their EA staffing slashed by more than half, dropping from 11 assistants to just 5 for student populations of over 600. “Our EAs are not ‘extras,’” she continued. “They are qualified professionals who de-escalate crisis situations, manage diverse learning needs, and play a critical role in allowing classroom teachers to teach.”

CUPE Alberta President Raj Uppal echoed the concerns and called on the provincial government to immediately step in with targeted funding to protect front-line education supports.

“Educational assistants are the backbone of inclusive classrooms,” said Uppal. “When we cut EAs, we fail students who need support the most. The Minister must act now, because these cuts affect every student in Alberta who relies on additional help to succeed.”

CUPE Alberta is urging the province to demonstrate real leadership by reversing the EA cuts, restoring jobs, and investing in a public education system that supports all children.

EDMONTON, ALBERTA – CUPE Alberta is sounding the alarm over a looming crisis in the province’s K–12 education system as hundreds of educational assistants (EAs) across the province face job losses following the withdrawal of most of the federal Jordan’s Principle funding for non-reserve schools.

Jordan’s Principle is a federal policy intended to ensure First Nations children receive the services they need without delay, including in education, health care, and social services. In Alberta, this funding has helped support educational assistants in public schools, benefiting both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students.

In a powerful open letter sent to Minister of Education and Childcare Demetrios Nicolaides, Wendy Harman, President of CUPE 5543, warned that the cuts would be “catastrophic” for students with complex learning needs, behavioural challenges, and those on Individualized Education Plans.

“This will devastate our Alberta schools,” wrote Harman. “Now, we are actively choosing to let more children fall through the cracks, and those cracks are growing into chasms.”

Harman cited alarming figures from Parkland School Division, where some schools will see their EA staffing slashed by more than half, dropping from 11 assistants to just 5 for student populations of over 600. “Our EAs are not ‘extras,’” she continued. “They are qualified professionals who de-escalate crisis situations, manage diverse learning needs, and play a critical role in allowing classroom teachers to teach.”

CUPE Alberta President Raj Uppal echoed the concerns and called on the provincial government to immediately step in with targeted funding to protect front-line education supports.

“Educational assistants are the backbone of inclusive classrooms,” said Uppal. “When we cut EAs, we fail students who need support the most. The Minister must act now, because these cuts affect every student in Alberta who relies on additional help to succeed.”

CUPE Alberta is urging the province to demonstrate real leadership by reversing the EA cuts, restoring jobs, and investing in a public education system that supports all children.

MEDICINE HAT, Alberta — CUPE 829, representing approximately 350 education support workers in the Medicine Hat Public School Division, ratified a new four-year collective agreement on May 13 that will be in place until August 31, 2028. The previous agreement expired in 2024. Almost 90% of voting members supported the new contract.

This new deal comes after a forced vote on the employer’s “final offer” was rejected by members. This important step allowed CUPE 829 to return to the bargaining table and secure a stronger deal, one that better reflects the needs and contributions of education support workers. Both CUPE 829 and the employer have withdrawn their unfair labour practices complaints.

This new, ratified agreement secures the province-wide CUPE pattern achieved through the hard-fought efforts of striking education workers across Alberta.

CUPE National Representative Kim Wentzell said, “CUPE 829 is pleased to have reached this agreement that provides long-term stability for our members, for the school division, and for the kids.

Our members are proud of the work we do every day to support students and schools. This agreement recognizes that work and ensures we can continue supporting the community effectively.

CUPE 829 looks forward to continuing to build a strong and respectful working relationship with the Medicine Hat Public School Division as both parties move forward together under this new agreement.”