Custodial and maintenance workers reach tentative deal with Calgary Board of Education
Striking custodial and maintenance workers at the Calgary Board of Education (CBE) may soon be back on the job after their union reached a tentative deal with the school board.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) announced on Tuesday morning that it had reached tentative agreements with both the CBE and the Parkland School Division, west of Edmonton. The agreements, which would end a three-week work stoppage, are for a three-year term ending in August 2028.
More than 1,100 custodial and maintenance workers from Calgary's public and Catholic school divisions went on strike in February, arguing they haven't received a wage increase in years. The striking workers included cleaners, plumbers, tradespeople, facility operators, mechanics and members working on ground maintenance and snow removal.
Members of CUPE Local 40 still need to agree to ratify the deal with the CBE. The union will hold an electronic ratification vote on Tuesday night, with results announced the following evening. If approved, the workers would return to Calgary public schools on Friday.
CUPE Alberta president Rory Gill said on Tuesday that his union's members made it clear throughout the past few weeks they were serious with the school boards and province about needing better wages, which has resulted in new deals for striking education workers around Alberta.
"These have been very long strikes, incredibly tough struggles for our members," Gill said. "But they've maintained their determination, their strength and their solidarity, and it's paying off. It's paying off in decent living wages and proper funding for public education."
CUPE Local 5543, representing Parkland School Division employees, will hold a ratification vote of their own beginning Tuesday afternoon.
More details about the new deals will be released after union members have reviewed them, Gill said. But CUPE noted the agreements are for a wage package higher than what the provincial government originally mandated.
The new agreements follow thousands of education support workers across Alberta reaching a tentative deal of their own with the Edmonton Public, Fort McMurray Public and Fort McMurray Catholic school districts on Saturday. CUPE's agreement with the Fort McMurray school boards was ratified this week, which will bring them back to work on Wednesday.
CUPE 3550 members at Edmonton Public Schools will vote on their tentative agreement on Wednesday. If accepted, the Edmonton public school workers on strike will return to work on Thursday.
Strikes remain ongoing for CUPE workers at the Calgary Catholic School District (CCSD), as well as the Black Gold School Division in central Alberta and Foothills School Division.
The CCSD said it will meet with striking Local 520 members on Tuesday. Gill said he's hopeful the two sides will reach a deal just like their counterparts at the CBE.
Thousands of education workers have been on strike in Edmonton and Fort McMurray since mid-November. Around the province, CUPE has noted the average education support worker earns $34,500 per year.
Alberta's Minister of Finance Nate Horner and Minister of Education Demetrios Nicolaides said in a joint statement on Tuesday they were pleased to see, after months of negotiations, education workers will receive raises and return to work if the agreements are ratified.
"The Government of Alberta welcomes the return to normalcy for tens of thousands of students, staff, and families," Horner and Nicolaides said in an emailed statement.
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