School support worker strike poised to grow as two more divisions reach impasse

The two sides met on Thursday but could not end the strike. CTV News Edmonton's Nicole Weisberg reports.

EDMONTON — A strike by thousands of school support workers in Alberta is poised to get bigger as unions for two more divisions reach an impasse.

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Staff from the Edmonton area, Sturgeon County and Fort McMurray have been picketing for weeks over a wage dispute with their employers.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees now says about 900 staffers from the Parkland School Division and the Black Gold School Division could join strike action after having reached a bargaining impasse.

Local president Wendy Harman says her members are finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet and says it’s time for Alberta’s government to properly fund public education.

Rory Gill from CUPE Alberta has said Alberta could see a provincewide strike by the spring if the government doesn’t act.

Spokesman Tony Clark says the local representing Edmonton workers returned to the bargaining table Thursday but could not land a deal.

“The province hasn’t lifted its wage mandate for the school board. Bargaining will continue on Monday,” Clark said in a statement Friday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 24, 2025.

The Canadian Press