Fort McMurray School Support Workers Poised for Strike After Rejecting Wage Offer
FORT MCMURRAY, Alberta — Support staff at Fort McMurray’s public and Catholic school divisions may soon be back on the picket lines after rejecting proposals from the provincial Disputes Inquiry Board (DIB). On Tuesday, the Board released their recommendations which aim to end the ongoing labour dispute between the school divisions and CUPE Locals 2559 and 2545, which represent school support staff at the Catholic and Public Divisions respectively.
Among the recommendations from the DIB is a 3.5 per cent wage increase for staff, of which 2.75 per cent would be retroactive to February 1, 2024, and the additional 0.75 per cent retroactive to August 31. Other recommendations included a $100 increase to employee health spending accounts and a $175 honorarium for noon-hour relief supervision. The board also recommended changes to the structure of personal leave, aimed at improving work-life balance for employees.
CUPE was asking for an increase of $8.00 / hour for their employees, spread over four years. Due to different wage categories and employee classifications, there is no overall percentage to their request. CUPE also wanted a $200 increase in their employee health spending account
Both CUPE Local 2559, representing Catholic school workers, and CUPE Local 2545, representing public school workers, have rejected the offer. Danielle Danis, president of CUPE Local 2559, confirmed that both locals have sent letters to the Minister of Jobs, Economy, and Trade dismissing the proposal. Danis expects the Alberta Labour Board to step in and request a formal vote on the recommendations in the coming days.
If the union membership formally rejects the proposals through a vote, CUPE plans to reissue a 72-hour strike notice, which could see support staff back on the picket lines later this month. The union originally planned to strike on September 17, but the strike was delayed due to the board’s involvement.
The three-year delay in negotiating a new collective agreement has left the parties far apart, and the potential for a prolonged strike looms large. Harvard Media News has obtained an unofficial copy of the report by the DIB. The comments contained in the report paint a picture of a deep canyon separating the positions of the bargaining parties.
“It is clear to me that if the Employer, CUPE, and the bargaining unit members do not all accept the recommendations set out in this report, then it is highly likely that there will be a strike commencing very quickly thereafter,” says the report.
“It is a reality of labour relations that sometimes a strike or lockout is necessary. However, in considering whether to accept the recommendations, I urge both parties to carefully and seriously consider the negative impact of any strike.”
The report also cautions that strike action by CUPE could continue for some time.
“The length of strikes and lockouts are notoriously difficult to predict. If there is to be a strike, I truly hope that it is short in duration. However, given how far apart the parties are in collective bargaining, the parties must accept the reality that there is a risk that a strike could be lengthy,” said the report.
In a media release, the Catholic School Division has pledged to continue to share information on the situation in a timely manner.
“We wish to assure our families, and the public as a whole, that we are continuing to update and revise contingency plans in the event a withdrawal of labour services from CUPE Local 2559 occurs,” said FMCSD. “Fort McMurray Catholic Schools wishes to thank our families and staff for their grace, patience, and compassion as we work through this labour negotiation.”
Meanwhile, the Office of the Superintendent for Fort McMurray Public School Division also communicated their commitment to sharing information with families and students as soon as it becomes available.