-

Deals Reached in Three Education Strikes

EDMONTON, Alberta--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Deals that could lead to the end of a province wide strike by education workers were reached today between CUPE locals and the Edmonton Public, Fort McMurray Public and Fort McMurray Catholic school districts.

The settlements, which must still be ratified by CUPE members, would end the strikes at three school districts. About 3,000 CUPE 3550 members have been on strike at Edmonton Public since January 13 and another 1,000 CUPE 2545 and CUPE 2559 members in Fort McMurray have been on strike since mid-November 2024.

The settlements do not apply to the 2,600 support workers on strike in Calgary, Sturgeon, Parkland, Foothills and Black Gold school divisions, however, CUPE Alberta President Rory Gill says those locals will be rushing back to the negotiating table as quickly as possible to try to get a deal.

“I’m in awe of the workers in Edmonton and Fort McMurray who stood their ground, in weather as cold as minus 51 degrees, to win a fair contract,” said Gill. “Their fortitude, their determination, and their solidarity won the day.”

“Education support workers are critical to our school system, and today they finally won the respect they deserve,” said Gill.

Gill said CUPE won’t be releasing finer details of the settlement until members have had a chance to look at it. However, he did confirm that all three deals have wage agreements that are higher than the original wage mandates imposed by the Alberta government, and all three deals were for a period ending in August 2028.

At Fort McMurray Public and Catholic schools, workers will vote on the proposal over a 24-hour period ending on Monday evening. If the proposal is ratified, members will return to work on Wednesday, March 19. There will be no traditional picket lines on Monday or Tuesday.

At Edmonton Public Schools, ratification will occur on Monday or Tuesday, and return to work will happen on Wednesday or Thursday. There will be no traditional picket lines in the meantime.

:clc/cope 491

Contacts

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

Industry:

Canadian Union of Public Employees

Release Versions
English

Contacts

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

More News From Canadian Union of Public Employees

CUPE Ontario and Ontario NDP Challenge Conservatives’ Claims on Bill 60 and Water Privatization With Damning Legal Opinion

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Ford Conservatives’ plan to privatize Ontario’s water was conclusively exposed today as leaders from CUPE Ontario and the Ontario NDP were joined by a lawyer from Goldblatt Partners LLP to release a legal opinion that reveals the true intent of Bill 60, the Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025. CUPE Ontario commissioned a legal review of Schedule 16 of Bill 60 as part of the union’s fight against the Ford government’s plans to privatize publicly owned regiona...

CUPE’s largest Nova Scotian Nursing Home Local Votes to Strike

SYDNEY, NS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Workers from Harbourstone Enhanced Care, represented by Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 1183, have voted 87% in favour of a strike mandate, making them the 39th CUPE long term care home to take this action. “As long-term care workers, we don’t do this job for the money or the praise, certainly not the notoriety—we do it because we genuinely care about the residents in these homes, about their families, and we want to do our part in making their lives...

Media Advisory - NSCAD Rally

HALIFAX, NS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Striking Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD) workers and their allies are rallying tomorrow, March 13, at 11:00 AM outside NSCAD’s Fountain Campus at Granville Mall in Halifax. Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 3912 NSCAD Vice President Lachlan Sheldrick and CUPE 3912 President Lauren McKenzie will be available for interviews, along with striking workers, alumni, current undergraduate students, labour movement leaders, and other community su...
Back to Newsroom