Fort McMurray Education Support Staff Set to Vote on Dispute Inquiry Board Recommendations

FORT MCMURRAY, Alberta--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fort McMurray Catholic and public education support workers in CUPE Locals 2545 and 2559 will vote on recommendations proposed by the Disputes Inquiry Board (DIB), from Friday, November 1^st until noon, Monday, November 4^th, through an electronic ballot. The Alberta Labour Relations Board will announce the official results on Tuesday, November 5^th. If the recommendations are voted down, 72 hours’ strike notice could be served immediately by the Local.

“The DIB recommendations do not address the needs of our members. We have not had a raise in almost ten years, and a $175.00 annual honorarium proposed by the DIB does not make up for a lack of meaningful wage increases,” explains Lynn Fleet, President of CUPE Local 2545. “We did not negotiate this settlement. If we do not fight back now for our right to bargain freely and fairly, we will continue to be pushed around. We urge members to vote ‘no’ on this offer,” says Fleet.

The DIB recommendations would put wages at a rate that still falls short of a livable income, leaving many members below the poverty line. “We’re hearing loud and clear from our membership that they won’t accept a deal that doesn’t address the inflated cost of living, and we strongly support every member’s decision to vote ‘no’,” adds Danielle Danis, President CUPE Local 2559.

CUPE Locals 2545 and 2559 represent more than 1,000 educational assistants, librarians, IT workers, custodians, and maintenance workers at Fort McMurray’s public and Catholic schools.