-

Second Edmonton School Trustee Quits, Backs Support Staff

EDMONTON, Alberta--(BUSINESS WIRE)--For the second time since the beginning of a strike by education support workers, an Edmonton Public School Trustee has resigned, citing support for the low paid workers.

On Friday evening, Ward C Trustee Marcia Hole made statements on social media announcing her resignation from the board, and supporting education workers.

In January, Ward D Trustee Trisha Estabrooks resigned from the school district in a similar manner, citing support for the strike and opposition to the provincial government’s underfunding of education.

Education support workers at Edmonton Public Schools have been on strike since January 13, 2025. In total, 6,600 education support workers are on strike at nine different school districts across the province.

CUPE 3550 President Mandy Lamoureux said the resignations speak to the growing consensus around the strike.

“We hear from Trustees, administrators, teachers, parents and students all the time. Everyone agrees that wages are too low, funding isn’t enough, and that the Alberta government needs to act to fix the problems in our classrooms,” said Lamoureux.

“I want to thank Trustees Hole and Estabrooks for standing up for education, and literally putting their jobs on the line to say what everyone is thinking: support workers deserve respect and a living wage.”

:clc/cope 491

Contacts

Lou Arab, Communications Representative
larab@cupe.ca | 780.271.2722

Industry:

Canadian Union of Public Employees

Release Versions
English

Contacts

Lou Arab, Communications Representative
larab@cupe.ca | 780.271.2722

More News From Canadian Union of Public Employees

Oxfam Canada Board can’t claim to stand for feminism and justice while their workers strike

OTTAWA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Two weeks into the strike at Oxfam Canada, CUPE 2722 is calling out the hypocrisy of Oxfam Canada’s Board of Directors and Executive Director Lauren Ravon, who continue to wrap themselves in the language of feminism, equity and justice while workers at their own organization are forced to strike for compassionate and inclusive workplace protections. Oxfam Canada workers have been on strike since June 11 after the employer failed to negotiate a fair agreement. Key issues...

Long-Term Care Workers to Rally for Better Working Conditions and Wages as For-profit Corporation Stonewalls in Negotiations

Markham, ON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On Monday, June 29, long-term care workers from across the province will be boarding buses to hold a rally at Extendicare’s head office in Markham. Eight CUPE local unions representing 1,100 long-term care staff are currently in bargaining with Extendicare. The employees are calling on the for-profit corporation to address chronic understaffing, low wages and inadequate benefits - issues directly tied to resident care. Extendicare previously withdrew from talks in...

CUPE: YMCA Engages in Union Busting

EDMONTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--It may be fun to stay at the YMCA – but working there is another story. The YMCA of Northern Alberta has removed three long-term employees who just happened to be leading an effort to get other employees to join the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). The three employees have eight, ten, and twenty-two years of experience working for the employer. Two of them were well qualified for a new position posted one month after the layoff notices were delivered. CUPE h...
Back to Newsroom