Striking CUPE Education Support Workers Tell Edmonton School Board to Cease and Desist Inappropriate Bad Faith Bargaining Tactics

As strike momentum grows, the employer resorts to misleading messages

EDMONTON, Alberta--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Striking education support workers with CUPE 3550 sent a cease-and-desist letter to Edmonton Public Schools for its misleading communication to parents and workers and attempts to negotiate through the public and media.

“Our bargaining committee is always ready to talk honestly at the bargaining table, but the employer’s recent behaviour is bad faith bargaining,” says Mandy Lamoureux, President of CUPE 3550.

The cease-and-desist letter to Edmonton Public Schools notes that CUPE considers “this communication misleading and an attempt to circumvent the union as the exclusive bargaining agent of employees.” This is bargaining in bad faith and against the law.

“While we are frustrated by Edmonton Public Schools’ apparent attempt to side-step the bargaining process, this desperate change of tactic shows our members’ collective action is working. They’re trying to divide us, but we will stay united and will get the best deal for education support workers at the bargaining table.

“Edmonton Public needs to stop playing games that will only prolong the strike. They need to negotiate at the bargaining table, not through the media and not through parents. The School Board needs to step up and protect public education. They need to tell the provincial government to lift its unfair wage caps and provide proper funding so our kids have a supportive learning environment,” concludes Lamoureux.