-

Education support workers strike begins today

EDMONTON, Alberta--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Education support workers at two school districts took job action today starting this morning.

Over 200 employees of Sturgeon public schools (members of CUPE Local 4625) will take rotating job action and work to rule.

Over 3,000 employees of Edmonton public schools (members of CUPE Local 3550) will take full strike action at all schools and other board offices.

CUPE 3550 President Mandy Lamoureux said the workers love their jobs, their students, and their schools, but have been pushed to the limit.

“Some support staff have gone ten years without a cost of living wage increase,” said Lamoureux. “Many of our members work two to three jobs to earn a living wage.”

“Alberta has the lowest funding for education of any province in Canada,” said Lamoureux.

CUPE says job postings at schools are going unfilled due to poor wages. Edmonton Public School Board has a 10% vacancy rate among support staff positions.

People are quitting, no one will take the jobs at these wages. Students and education are suffering, said CUPE 4625 President Kelly Salisbury. “If we don’t take action, a bad situation for students will only get worse.”

:clc/cope 491

Contacts

Lou Arab
larab@cupe.ca |780.271.2722

Industry:

CUPE

Release Versions
English

Contacts

Lou Arab
larab@cupe.ca |780.271.2722

More News From CUPE

MEDIA ADVISORY: Long Term Care Workers Hold Information Picket in Sydney on Friday

SYDNEY, NS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Long term care workers represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) will hold an information picket outside the Mayflower Mall in Sydney on Friday. They are gathering to raise awareness for bargaining, which aims to bring a nearly two-year expired contract up to date, and ask for support from the members of the public. WHAT: Demonstration and information picket WHEN: December 5, 2025, from 2 PM to 4 PM WHERE: 800 Grand Lake Road, Sydney (map) WHO: Lo...

Glace Bay Long Term Care Workers Vote to Strike

GLACE BAY, NS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Long term care workers from Seaview Manor Home for Special Care, represented by CUPE 2094, voted 96% in favour of a strike mandate last week, joining the 18 other CUPE long term care locals who’ve taken similar strike votes in the past month. “We’re frustrated with this round of bargaining,” admitted CUPE 2094 President Allen Keeping. “We all heard Houston’s promises on the campaign trail, how he swore to fix health care and make life better for Nova Scotians, an...

Port Hawkesbury Long Term Care Workers Vote to Strike

CAPE BRETON, NS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Long term care workers from Port Hawkesbury Nursing Home, represented by Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) 3630, voted 100% in favour of a strike mandate last week, demonstrating their resolve to fight for better wages and improved recruitment and retention initiatives for the sector. “As inspiring as it is to see my fellow long term care workers come together to fight for a better contract, the truth is that none of us want to be in this position,” exp...
Back to Newsroom