UNA stands in solidarity with CUPE members employed at Fort McMurray schools

With about 1,000 members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees set to strike at schools in Fort McMurray, United Nurses of Alberta stands in solidarity with the workers’ struggle to achieve a fair collective agreement.
 
CUPE says the educational assistants, librarians, IT workers, custodians, and maintenance workers employed by both school boards haven’t had a raise in almost a decade, and that the DIB’s recommended settlement would leave many members below the poverty line.
 
CUPE 2545, which represents staff at the city’s public schools, and Local 2559, which represents staff of Catholic schools, have served legal strike notices indicating their intention to commence strike action tomorrow and Thursday.
 
CUPE Alberta said in a statement that picketing will begin Wednesday at 7:45 a.m. near Dr. Karl A. Clark Public School and Lady of the Rivers Catholic School. Pickets will move to a different location on Thursday. Starting on November 18, CUPE plans to rotate its picket lines to different schools daily.
 
Meanwhile, the public school district delivered notice of a lockout vote to Local 2545 shortly before the union served strike notice.
 
Last week, the CUPE members voted to reject recommendations proposed by a Disputes Inquiry Board that was imposed by the provincial government in October.
 
UNA encourages its members to join the support staff on their picket lines as they exercise their constitutional right to take strike action, and to express their support in conversations with elected school board members and MLAs.