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.”

“Teens need adults to actually be adults about sex”

EDMONTON – CUPE 3550 represents 3,500 employees (including library workers) at the Edmonton Public School Board.  President Mandy Lamoureaux issued the following statement regarding Alberta Education Minister Dimitrios Nicolaides’s policy on ‘age appropriate books’ in school libraries.

“The problems in Alberta education today stem from underfunded schools. Today’s announcement is a transparent attempt to distract from funding issues with dubious culture wars.

The government should talk to parents, who will tell them book censorship does nothing to solve the real issues students face.

The education minister is nearly silent about the fact that schools are laying off staff as Jordan’s Principle funding dries up. The Minister also avoids discussing overcrowding in classrooms, funding levels that don’t match inflation, support for special needs kids, and staff wages that don’t keep up with the cost of living.

Instead, Minister Nicolaides bans books with gay and queer themes.

Experts agree that in an age when teens can access pornography at almost anytime, young people need literature with healthy depictions of sexuality. Sex is something kids know about, and need to learn about in thoughtful and respectful ways.

The UCP plan to divert attention from the failures of their own education system will only hurt teens who need adults to actually be adults about sex.”

A group of over 400 support staff in the Northern Lights Public School Division have voted to join the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), Local 2559.

The employees voted 76% in favour of joining CUPE. The group includes clerical staff, educational assistants, cafeteria workers, library workers and other specialists. Custodial workers in the district already belong to CUPE Local 1098.

CUPE Local 2559 President Danielle Danis said the employees unionized to have a stronger voice in their workplace. The district has been hit with over 130 layoffs of educational assistants in recent weeks due to the cutting of “Jordan’s Principal” funding.

“These workers join the largest union of education workers in Canada,” said Danis. “We’re happy to have them in the family, and we look forward to helping them with their many workplace issues.”

Northern Lights School Division covers a large geographic area of over 14,000 square kilometres from the Saskatchewan border to Highway 63. The district has 28 schools and 5,800 students.

EDMONTON – Health care worker Raj Uppal has been elected President of CUPE Alberta. The forty-one-year-old mother of two was selected on Frid

ay as the new leader of the 40,000-member strong organization, defeating incumbent Rory Gill.

Uppal appears to be the first woman of colour to lead a major union in Alberta.

Uppal has been the President of CUPE 41 for six years, representing 1,400 members at Grey Nuns and Edmonton General Hospitals. During her time as Local President, CUPE 41 focused on multiple health and safety improvements, with a successful push for better equipment and improved employer policies and practices.

“I’m honoured and humbled to gain the trust of CUPE activists,” said Uppal. “I’m excited to get started and to keep building our union as a strong force for working people.”

Uppal says as President she will work to improve ties with other unions. “We need to have strong working relationships with other unions, especially in the public sector, to build solidarity and win gains for working people.”

Uppal has served on the CUPE Alberta executive board for two terms as the Diversity Vice President.  She is a former mortgage broker and previous member of UFCW 401.

EDMONTON, ALBERTA – The Canadian Union of Public Employees released summaries of the nine settled and ratified agreements in the education support workers’ strike.

CUPE 40 (Calgary Board of Education)
Term: 2024-2028

Sept 1, 2024      3%
Sept 1, 2025      $1.25/hr or 3% (whichever is higher)
Sept 1, 2026      3%
Sept 1, 2027      $1.25/hr or 3% (whichever is higher)

Dollar range improvement – $3.65-$4.97
Percentage range improvement – 12.55%-17.81%

Subforeman rate moved to Forman rate.

 

CUPE 520 (Calgary Catholic)
Term: 2024-2028

Sept 1, 2024      3%
Sept 1, 2025      $1.25/hr or 3% (whichever is higher)
Sept 1, 2026      3%
Sept 1, 2027      $1.25/hr or 3% (whichever is higher)

Dollar range improvement – $4.03-$5.76
Percentage range improvement – 12.45%-20.04%

Health Spending Account increased by $300 per year.

 

CUPE 2559 (Fort McMurray Catholic)
Term: 2020-2028

Sept 1, 2023      1.25%
Feb   1, 2024     1.5%
Sept 1, 2024      3%
Sept 1, 2025      $1.25/hr or 3% (whichever is higher)
Sept 1, 2026      3%
Sept 1, 2027      $1.25/hr or 3% (whichever is higher)

Dollar range improvement – $4.03-$5.76
Percentage range improvement – 16.1%-27.9%

Increase in health benefits premiums – employer coverage goes from 80% – 100% by 2028.

 

CUPE 2545 (Fort McMurray Public)
Term: 2020-2028

Sept 1, 2023      1.25%
Feb  1,  2024     1.5%
Sept 1, 2024      3%
Sept 1, 2025      $1.25/hr or 3% (whichever is higher)
Sept 1, 2026      3%
Sept 1, 2027      $1.25/hr or 3% (whichever is higher)

Dollar range improvement – $4.50-$6.24
Percentage range improvement – 15.2%-19.9%

Increase of $125 in health spending account.

 

CUPE 3484 (Black Gold School Division)
Term: 2024-2028

Sept 1, 2024      3%
Sept 1, 2025      $1.25/hr or 3% (whichever is higher)
Sept 1, 2026      3%
Sept 1, 2027      $1.25/hr or 3% (whichever is higher)

Dollar range improvement – $3.76-$6.62
Percentage range improvement – 14.3%-27.8%

Minimum 197 paid days.

Market adjustment for Educational Assistants (8%-9.6%)

Market adjustment for secretaries – all move to the head secretary rate.

Health spending account – $600-650

 

CUPE 3550 (Edmonton Public Schools)
Term: 2020-2028

Jun 1, 2023        1.25%
Feb 1, 2024       1.5%
Aug 31, 2024     0.5%
Sept 1, 2024      3%
Sept 1, 2025      $1.25/hr or 3% (whichever is higher)
Sept 1, 2026      3%
Sept 1, 2027      $1.10/hr or 3% (whichever is higher)

Dollar range improvement – $4.03-$5.92
Percentage range improvement – 16%-20.87%

Removal of bottom two steps in the pay grid.

Certification bonus, $0.50/hour for “Certification 1”, $1.00/hour for “Certification 2”.

 

CUPE 4625 (Sturgeon School Division)
Term: 2020-2028

Feb 1,  2024      2.75%
Sept 1, 2024      3%
Sept 1, 2025      $1.25/hr or 3% (whichever is higher)
Sept 1, 2026      3%
Sept 1, 2027      $1.25/hr or 3% (whichever is higher)

Dollar range improvement – $4.85-$6.37
Percentage range improvement – 20.40%-25.76%

3% market adjustment upon ratification.

Step 1 of the wage grid removed.

Health spending account increased by $100

 

CUPE 5040 (Foothills School Division)
Term: 2024-2028

Sept 1, 2024      3%
Sept 1, 2025      $1.25/hr or 3% (whichever is higher)
Sept 1, 2026      3%
Sept 1, 2027      $1.25/hr or 3% (whichever is higher)

Dollar range improvement – $3.80-$6.16
Percentage range improvement – 13.9%-28.5%

Secretary rate moved to level 2 one month after ratification.

Addition of one paid family sick day.

 

CUPE 5543 (Parkland School Division)
Term: 2024-2028

Sept 1, 2024      3%
Sept 1, 2025      $1.25/hr or 3% (whichever is higher)
Sept 1, 2026      3%
Sept 1, 2027      $1.25/hr or 3% (whichever is higher)

Dollar range improvement – $3.77-$8.86
Percentage range improvement – 12.55%-29.42%

Market adjustments for Educational Assistants (result is wage increases for EAs are 22-29%).

Minimum 200 days of work.

$400 vision plan.

TABLE OFFICERS	ELECTED 2025
President	Raj Uppal L41
Recording Secretary	Kelly Spence L8
Young Workers Vice President	Katey Schmidt L1825
General Vice President (South)	Jason Fenske L46
Diversity Vice President	Abbie Mitchell L40
AREA VICE PRESIDENT – CALGARY	Cherise Stock L38
TRUSTEE (3-YEAR TERM)	Ryan Lauder L784
ALTERNATE AREA VP
Peace River	Vacant
Fort McMurray	Lynn Fleet L2545
North West	Vacant
North East	Mary Morin L2550
Edmonton	Shelly Lavallee L3550
Calgary	Vacant
Red Deer	Joan Keough L838
Lethbridge	Lynda Easthope L408
Medicine Hat	Tabatha Williams L1032

CALGARY, ALBERTA – Two more CUPE locals have voted to accept tentative agreements, ending strikes at the Calgary Catholic and Sturgeon School Divisions.

CUPE 520 members at the Calgary Catholic School Division voted 93% to accept their settlement. CUPE 4625 members at Sturgeon School Division voted 80% in favour. Return to work is scheduled for Monday at Calgary Catholic schools and March 31 at Sturgeon schools.

There is now only one group of striking education support workers left to ratify an agreement. CUPE Local 5040 members will vote tomorrow on their settlement with the Foothills School Division.

MORINVILLE, ALBERTA – CUPE Local 4625 and the Sturgeon School Division have reached a tentative settlement in the strike that has been ongoing since January 13.

Voting will open later this morning for over 200 education support workers to ratify the settlement. We expect a result tomorrow by mid-day. If the members approve the agreement, they will return to work on March 31, after spring break.

This leaves Foothills School Division as the only striking education local without a settlement. CUPE 5040 and Foothills are bargaining today.

There are now tentative settlements in the following districts:
Calgary Board of Education (CUPE 40)
Calgary Catholic School District (CUPE 520)
Edmonton Public Schools (CUPE 3550)
Black Gold School Division (CUPE 3484)
Parkland School Division (CUPE 5543)

Ratification results are expected today at CUPE 40, CUPE 3484, CUPE 3550, and CUPE 5543.

There are two ratified agreements at:
Fort McMurray Catholic Schools (CUPE 2559).
Fort McMurray Public Schools (CUPE 2545).