CUPE National President Mark Hancock Joins Alberta Education Support Workers as Strike Heats Up

The strength of unionized workers puts employers and province on the defensive

EDMONTON, Alberta--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CUPE National President Mark Hancock will join in solidarity with striking CUPE 3500 education support workers on their picket line in Alberta’s capital on January 30^th.

CUPE 3550 members continue to hold their strike position while the province and employer begin to show signs of desperation in their public messages intended to divide and deflate members’ resolve.

“CUPE members across Canada, and right here in Alberta, are leading the way in fighting for fair wages and strong public services,” says Hancock. “I’m so proud to stand with them on their picket line as they show incredible strength in this effort to achieve fairness for their profession and their community.”

CUPE Alberta President Rory Gill, who will join Mark Hancock on the picket line, says: “With more than 4,000 workers on strike, and many more headed into strike votes, it’s time for the Government of Alberta to recognize they are on the wrong side of workers and the wrong side of parents and the broader public by continuing to prolong this bargaining impasse.”

CUPE 3550 includes over than 3,000 hard-working educational support staff with the Edmonton Public School Board. They have not had a wage increase in over a decade, despite a significant rise in cost-of-living in that time causing ongoing understaffing in their schools and affecting students and families.

“Low pay for education workers has consequences for all of us,” says Mandy Lamoureux, President of Local 3550. “It makes it hard to attract people to do these jobs and the quality of education for our children deteriorates. The province can afford to give these workers a raise. They need to stop playing games, trying to shift blame, and making up excuses. This strike could end today if the government removed their wage caps and committed to properly funding public education.”

Hancock and Gill will join Lamoureux and members of CUPE Local 3550 on the picket line at Elder Dr. Francis Whiskeyjack School (2410 17 Street NW in Edmonton) and be available for comment on site from 11:30am-12:30pm.