Living Waters school support staff in Alberta vote in favour of strike

Workers bargaining for new deal since 2016: AUPE

Living Waters school support staff in Alberta vote in favour of strike
Members of AUPE who work at the six Living Waters schools include educational assistants, typists, custodians, secretaries, library clerks, maintenance workers and financial assistants. GOOGLE STREET VIEW

Members of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) employed as support staff at Catholic schools in Slave Lake, Edson and Whitecourt served strike notice to the employer on Sept. 24 after a vote held last week.

The support staff employed by Living Waters Catholic schools have been in bargaining since 2016. The staff have been fighting for a contract but their efforts have been stymied by an employer unwilling to move on important issues such as stable scheduling, compensation that begins to address the rising cost of living and defined hours of work, said the union.

“Our goal is always to reach a negotiated deal at the table, but the employer has unfortunately forced us into this situation,” said Rod Feland, AUPE vice-president. “Some of these members have had to resort to using the food bank to support their families and make ends meet. Meanwhile, the school board started 2016 with an operating surplus. Clearly, this doesn’t add up.”

Support staff will be in a position to legally strike on Sept. 28, said the AUPE.

Members of AUPE who work at the six Living Waters schools include educational assistants, typists, custodians, secretaries, library clerks, maintenance workers and financial assistants.

AUPE is Alberta’s largest union, representing more than 93,000 members across the province.

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