The Province is using the Alberta Labour Code to Hammer Down Already Struggling Workers

EDMONTON, Alberta--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Alberta Minister of Jobs, Economy and Trade is, again, using an obscure piece of the Alberta Labour Code to restrict the right of education support workers to take job action by imposing a Disputes Inquiry Board (DIB) on CUPE Local 3550. A DIB is not a neutral third party with authority to prescribe a fair deal. As long as the Alberta government continues to impose a low wage mandate on the school board, this delay tactic will not be helpful in reaching a deal.

Mandy Lamoureux, President of CUPE Local 3550 said “The province’s bargaining directive on the board has precluded us from getting to a fair deal, and this shows they’re not interested in what’s fair. They’re putting their foot on the scale instead of just their thumb. They are leaving no room to negotiate.”

“This impasse created by the Government of Alberta’s inference in collective bargaining is not going to be fixed by them further interfering in collective bargaining,” said President of CUPE Alberta, Rory Gill.

The bargaining process is intended to be about finding a fair balance between the needs of the workers and the needs of the employer. In this case, both sides are stuck with the province in the middle setting the terms. “The province claims not to be involved in bargaining with CUPE, but they are exactly the problem,” said Gill.

“We know this government recognizes the crisis in education; they’re making announcements about new schools and staff. The reality is, though, that we aren’t going to be able to get those skilled workers and keep them if they have to work short-staffed for poverty wages,” said Lamoureux.