Rolling strikes begin next week at Fort McMurray Catholic, public schools after talks fail

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More than 1,000 educational assistants, librarians, administrative and maintenance staff, and custodians at Fort McMurray schools will start limiting their services in schools after last minute talks to avoid a strike failed before they could start.

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A rotational strike was confirmed by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) on Thursday evening. However, the Fort McMurray Public School Divison (FMPSD) has issued a lockout vote notice. Trustees will decide whether or not to lockout members. No lockout vote notice has come from FMCSD as of Thursday evening.

“We will carry out the strike as planned and respond to the lockout vote as events unfold. In the meantime, we urge parents, supporters and the community to contact the public school board trustees and encourage them to vote against a lockout,” said Lynn Fleet, president of CUPE Local 2545, which represents public school staff, in a statement.

FMPSD and FMCSD leaders agreed Wednesday evening to a last minute plea from CUPE for meetings, which would have avoided a strike. CUPE spokesperson Stephanie Lustig said in a Thursday interview talks quickly collapsed before they could start because FMPSD and FMCSD offered nothing new.

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The rotational strikes will start with two full-day strikes on Nov. 13 and 14. Starting Nov. 18, rolling strikes will hit three to six different schools daily. School locations will be announced the prior evening on a Facebook page called CUPE Education Workers – Fort McMurray Strike Updates. FMPSD and FMCSD will also share updates with families and staff.

All members will be work-to-rule, meaning they will only perform the duties in their collective agreement. They will not work late or arrive early, volunteer, take on work above their pay or mentor education support students. They will take full lunches and breaks. Members will still be paid for the days they work.

“The rolling strikes will no doubt create a disruption for families. However, rolling strikes also mean that our most vulnerable students won’t fall behind. They will still get socialization, education and care on the days we are not picketing,” said Danielle Danis, president of CUPE Local 2559, which represents Catholic school staff, in a statement.

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“A lockout would rob children of the services they need for an undetermined length of time. This would be chaotic for families.”

CUPE also believes this strategy is less likely to provoke intervention from the Alberta government. A strike was supposed to begin Sept. 17 after members voted against offers, but the province forced both sides back to negotiations through disputes inquiry boards (DIBs). The DIB recommendations were also rejected by bargaining committees in October and CUPE members last weekend.

Both school divisions have contingency plans to keep schools open during the strike. However, some programming and services will need to be modified or postponed. FMCSD has asked families of some special needs students have been asked to keep their children home.

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All sides want better funding, FMPSD says CUPE demands ‘fiscally impossible’

Local 2559 wants an $8 hourly raise spread across four years and wage parity with their FMPSD counterparts. They have not been offered a raise since 2015.

Local 2545 wants $2 to $3 for three years, and a $6 increase spread across three years. Their last wage increase was a 1.25 per cent boost in 2020. The union also wants staff to work on Professional Learning Fridays (PLFs). EAs do not work on these days, adding nine unpaid days to the academic year.

FMPSD said in a statement the demands of Local 2545 would cost their division $7.8 million retroactively and $3.4 million this year. The statement and a spokesperson did not address the lockout notice, but said the demands are “fiscally impossible,” and would require cutting supports and services.

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CUPE and both school divisions have said in multiple interviews in recent years the Alberta government underfunds their schools, causing crowded classrooms and poor staffing. FMPSD superintendent Annalee Nutter said in September their financial reserves are dwindling. The financial reserves for FMCSD ran out at the end of the last academic year.

“We remain committed to negotiating an agreement that maintains the educational supports and services for students and does not require reductions in those supports and services,” said FMPSD’s statement.

“While recognizing the right of our support staff to engage in legal work action by striking, we know this action will have an impact on our classrooms and schools. We remain committed to bargaining and working to find a resolution,” said the FMCSD statement.

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vmcdermott@postmedia.com

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