Over 3,000 support staff at Edmonton Public Schools are striking for better pay after years without an increase
Edmonton: More than 3,000 support staff workers at Edmonton Public Schools (EPSB) started their strike on Monday. They’re pushing for better salaries, which haven’t budged in over ten years. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) points out that the average school support worker in Alberta makes just $34,500 a year.
In the morning, dozens of workers gathered outside Ross Sheppard School, making their presence known. Edmonton police warned that traffic would be a mess around Ross Sheppard and two other schools—M.E. LaZerte High School and Elder Dr. Francis Whiskeyjack High School—until about 4 p.m. They advised drivers to be careful and consider alternate routes.
Interestingly, support staff at Sturgeon Public School Division, which covers schools north of Edmonton, also joined the strike. These support staff include custodians, administrative workers, tradespeople, and education assistants. More updates are expected soon.
