According to officials with the Parkland School Division, a limited job action began the morning of Tuesday, Feb. 18, as representatives from CUPE Local 5543 asked their 400 members to engage in “work-to-rule” activities.
Local 5543 president, Wendy Harman says members will only be asked to work the hours they are paid for and to refrain from engaging in volunteer activities.
CUPE officials say members voted 91 per cent in favor of a job action last week, joining the 4,000 members currently on strike in Edmonton, Sturgeon County and Fort McMurray.
The average salary for Education Support Workers in Alberta is $34,500 and Harman says this action is part of CUPE’s plan to escalate the strike until the Alberta government acts to address low wages in the education sector.
“This job action is happening because the Alberta government has not acted to address the poor wages of school support workers,” said Harman. “Alberta has the lowest per capita education funding in Canada. It’s inexcusable to leave our members shortchanged and classrooms underfunded.”
Officials say nearly 2,000 additional school support workers from four other school divisions have taken strike votes but have not yet served notice to strike.
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