The latest news story I wrote for The Alberta Worker. Edmonton area education workers file strike notice This could affect over 200 schools in Edmonton and the surrounding area. albertaworker.ca/news/edmonto... - ThreadSky

kimsiever.bsky.social • 47 days ago

The latest news story I wrote for The Alberta Worker.

Edmonton area education workers file strike notice

This could affect over 200 schools in Edmonton and the surrounding area.

https://albertaworker.ca/news/edmonton-area-ed-workers-file-strike-notice/

Comments

taraj26.bsky.social•47 days ago

...the superintendent claimed to have a "contingency plan" for kids last fall- turns out it was to cry to the AB govt & when there were protests for the 2 days, parents were told to keep kids home.
I suspect that will be the plan again.

hjraymond.bsky.social•44 days ago

Tara you are correct. Families have been directed to keep disabled children home today. Blatant discrimination on the part of the EPSB superintendent. I have first hand experience navigating and demanding my niece not be discriminated against and return to school like non disabled children!

taraj26.bsky.social•44 days ago

Yah... EPSB appears to have contempt towards all children, but particularly children who are vulnerable for the last couple years now.
They now don't even use the portable HEPAs & haven't invested in upgrading air filtration. Now saying "support staff" aren't necessary while getting parents to scab

hjraymond.bsky.social•44 days ago

I support EPSB support staff demand for livable wages. I support their right to strike. The strike is due to the UCP under funding schools. I do not support the superintendent’s use of children with disabilities as pawns.

hjraymond.bsky.social•44 days ago

The superintendent has given school leaders permission to direct parent to keep their children at home. No parent of a child with out a disability has been denied an education and are welcomed to come today and every day during the strike. This is blatant discrimination!

dirtbaglefty.bsky.social•47 days ago

Solidarity

oldladyofthelake.bsky.social•46 days ago

I support them

smartalecw.bsky.social•47 days ago

This quote from the Finance Minister has been stuck in my head.

"The work of educational assistants is important, but only takes place part-time and only during the school year," N. Horner said. "No one would expect to earn a full-time salary for 10 months of part-time work."

taraj26.bsky.social•47 days ago

I suspect they keep trying to get focus on average annual pay & calling it "part-time work", so that ppl aren't questioning the hourly wages, the amount of unpaid time & what the lower paid employees are making.

smartalecw.bsky.social•47 days ago

According to the collective agreement https://cupe.ca/local/cupe-3550-edmonton-public-school-board-support-staff, the lowest hourly wage is only $18.57 and they aren't allowed to work more than 70 hours per pay period. That puts max gross income per month around $2600 for someone at the bottom of the grid.

hjraymond.bsky.social•44 days ago

Part of the issue is school boards themselves have decreased support staff hours over the years. Saving nickels and dimes on their livelihood. The come to work at 9 and leave at 3. Schools boards trying to squeeze every thing they can out of there hard working colleagues.

smartalecw.bsky.social•43 days ago

When they're given smaller envelopes for more students, they're making unimaginable choices. Yes, it's shitty that it's impacting the most vulnerable.
I want to keep school boards accountable for things they can control, such as the size of their central office (including non-union staff).

hjraymond.bsky.social•42 days ago

Interesting fact. Years ago when there was a support staff strike the senior staff were with out admin support. After the strike they moved to create a none union designation of support staff so they would never be without support.

hjraymond.bsky.social•42 days ago

https://inclusionalberta.org/connections/schools-must-not-discriminate-against-students-with-disabilities-during-strike/

smartalecw.bsky.social•47 days ago

The average educational support worker earns $34,500 in Alberta.

This isn't just "part-time" or "seasonal" compensation. These are poverty wages.

The UCP believes that those supporting education in this province do not deserve to be paid a living wage.

smartinmartin22.bsky.social•47 days ago

Then MLA pay is also part time as the leg isn’t open full time either , yet the MLAs just gave themselves a nice raise and an increase for their accommodations.

rockojames.bsky.social•47 days ago

I wonder how negotiations will go, considering the big raise the UCP just gave themselves. I think I know the answer but still

Comments

Posting Rules

Reply