Education Workers Take New Approach

More than 10,000 education workers represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) served notice to bargain to 41 school districts on June 26. CUPE represents administrative staff, educational assistants, custodians, and construction and maintenance workers in the schools.

CUPE Alberta President Rory Gill stated that the locals are taking a new approach this time. "We're not going to let the province pick us apart one school district at a time. Our members are determined to get the respect they deserve," Gill said. The locals are working very closely together and are determined to stand together to put an end to poverty level wages and achieve their demands for compensation acceptable to them and which recognizes their work and important contribution to the education of our youth.

Education workers in Alberta make an appalling average of $34,000 a year, with education assistants averaging $27,000 a year. Most have had no wage increase for the past eight years. CUPE Alberta points out that since 2013, real wages in Alberta (weekly income accounting for inflation) has fallen by $142 per week for educational services; by $112 per week for health care and social assistance; and by $67 for utilities workers.

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This article was published in

September 23, 2024

Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/ITN2024/Articles/TI54143.HTM

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