Alberta education workers reach tentative deals with 3 school districts
The union representing thousands of education support workers across Alberta has reached a tentative deal with the Edmonton Public, Fort McMurray Public and Fort McMurray Catholic school districts.
In a statement released Saturday night, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) said the deals will still need to be ratified by members and details of the agreement will won't be released until workers have been able to review them. However, the union said the tentative deals include a provision for higher wages.
About 3,000 CUPE members have been on strike at Edmonton Public Schools since January 13 and another 1,000 members in Fort McMurray have been on strike since mid-November. With the average education support worker earning $34,500 per year in Alberta, the union has said that wages are its main issue.
In Fort McMurray, workers will vote on the proposed deal over a 24-hour period ending Monday evening and picket lines will be paused on Monday and Tuesday. If ratified, members in Fort McMurray will return to work on Wednesday, CUPE said.
The union said that for workers at Edmonton Public Schools, the ratification vote will happen on Monday or Tuesday and a return to work could start on Wednesday or Thursday. No picket lines will be held in the meantime, it added.
All three deals would give the CUPE members a contract ends in August 2028.
The settlements do not apply to the 2,600 workers still on strike in the Calgary, Sturgeon, Parkland, Foothills, and Black Gold school divisions, CUPE said.
Both school divisions in Fort McMurray posted statements on their websites.
"Today we are happy to share that we were able to end our week negotiating a resolution with CUPE Local 2545," Fort McMurray Public School Division said in its statement.
"Thank you for your grace, patience and understanding ... We recognize how difficult and prolonged this situation has been for all," reads the Fort McMurray Catholic Schools' statement.
"We are extremely grateful that a tentative resolution has been found that may bring all students and our valued support staff back to school as soon as possible."
CBC News has reached out to Edmonton Public Schools for comment.
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