Outrage Among Fort McMurray School Division Workers as Government Violates Charter-protected Right to Strike

FORT MCMURRAY, Alberta--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In a flagrantly anti-democratic violation of workers’ rights to free collective bargaining, the province has forced the education workers of CUPE 2545 and CUPE 2559 to the provincial Dispute Inquiry Board (DIB).

“The Smith government has demonstrated its total disregard for workers, their rights, and their aspirations for improving the quality of education for Fort McMurray students,” said Rory Gill, president of CUPE Alberta.

“They can pre-empt tomorrow’s strike action, but they can’t destroy the solidarity that CUPE education workers have built in their preparations for this strike.”

School division workers across the district have been mobilizing to back their bargaining demands, with a goal of protecting and enhancing the quality of education in Fort McMurray schools.

In a sign of their continuing determination, CUPE education workers will walk picket lines at their schools at the beginning and end of their workday tomorrow, in protest at the government’s move. They will be joined by members of other unions who support CUPE members.

The Dispute Inquiry Board has a minimum 30 days during which to effect a settlement; if it fails to reach a deal acceptable to both the union and the school division employers, workers can issue a second 72-hour notice to strike.

“The education workers of Fort McMurray schools have already turned down offers that would hurt the quality of education for students across the district. We are strong and united like never before. The Smith government has obviously been rattled by our determination and solidarity,” said CUPE 2545 President Lynn Fleet.

The Smith government has steadily eroded workers’ rights since it came to power. But this attack on collective bargaining, a Charter-protected right, is the most outright to date, said union leaders.

“Our members haven’t had a true wage increase in nearly a decade. We are struggling to make ends meet; some of us are working two and three jobs. This round of bargaining was our opportunity to correct those wrongs,” said Danielle Danis, President of CUPE 2559.

All leaders agreed that education workers deserve wages that reflect their contributions, and the current government’s directive on wages is a clear barrier to achieving that.

Gill concluded: “If the Minister of Jobs, Economy and Trade were truly committed to reaching a fair deal, he would immediately remove the wage directive that is holding back education wages and keeping workers in poverty. The government’s imposed directives prevent school divisions from offering more than the government’s restrictive mandate allows. These directives are an insult to the hard-working education staff who deserve fair compensation for the vital work they do.

“It's deeply disingenuous for the government to appoint a Dispute Inquiry Board while simultaneously tying its hands and refusing to allow the board to offer fair wage increases. The government’s actions speak louder than their empty words.”