CUPE Local 3550 Issues Strike Notice as Labour Unrest Spreads in Alberta Schools

Labour unrest among educational support workers is spreading across Alberta. CUPE Local 3550, representing staff at the Edmonton Public School Board (EPSB), has issued a 72-hour strike notice. Support workers in the capital region could walk off the job as early as Monday, escalating tensions between school divisions and unions over wage stagnation and funding shortfalls.

CUPE Local 3550 President Mandy Lamoureaux said some members have not received a cost-of-living wage adjustment in nearly a decade, echoing concerns raised by support staff currently striking in Fort McMurray.

The union has not clarified whether the Edmonton job action will begin with rotating strikes or a full walkout, but Lamoureaux emphasized the need for significant action. “We plan to escalate job action,” she said in a statement.

The strike notice comes just days after CUPE support workers in Fort McMurray’s Public and Catholic divisions walked off the job. On Tuesday school support workers shifted from a rotating strike to a full strike, leaving schools without educational assistants, custodians, librarians, and other key personnel. Both disputes highlight longstanding grievances over wages, working conditions, and limited resources for school support staff.

CUPE has also turned its attention to the provincial government, urging increased funding for education. The union argues that additional resources would give school divisions more flexibility in addressing wage issues and improving support for students.