CUPE is fighting on behalf of Alberta’s students
By Lethbridge Herald on February 27, 2025.
Editor,
Why are CUPE education sector workers on strike? Public education is at stake. This is why so many Albertans are working together to take a stand.
Alberta’s public education system has the lowest per student funding in the country (public includes Catholic and Francophone school boards). Investments in public education have been systemically lowered over the past decade. Everything from reasonable class sizes, access to library time, sports programming and specialized learning supports have been degraded as provincial education funding hasn’t kept up with inflation or population growth.
Wages have fallen behind for education support workers, like the ones who work with kids in your local neighbourhood school. Educational assistants (EAs), speech pathologists, secretaries, custodians and maintenance workers have seen little to no wage increases in the past decade. According to Government of Alberta data, an EA makes on average $26,300/year. Stagnant wages are being held down by the provincial government’s mandates that restrict the wages school divisions can offer at the bargaining table. The current mandates don’t even equal the cost of a loaf of bread in hourly increases. Purchasing power is way behind for the people who support Alberta’s students, making it difficult for them to meet the needs of their own families.
Continuing to starve public education in our province is not a solution to the challenges students, families, and education workers face in our schools. Neither is siphoning off more public dollars for private charter schools. Diverting funds from public education to independent boutique programs doesn’t help parents or children who require specialized support to access education. Most private schools do not accept students with medical and/or developmental requirements, behavioural/emotional challenges, or additional support needs. Most charter schools charge tuition beyond what the average family can afford, cherry pick which students they allow in, and are opposed to educational staff utilizing their right to be unionized workers.
Alberta’s public education system is a pillar in the lives of the vast majority of Albertans, supporting a range of programs rich in diversity and inclusion. Most Albertans believe public education in our province needs to be strengthened with appropriate resources, including proper wages. Strikes in the education sector are a symptom of a systemic problem of underfunding. The province can and should correct the problem in their budget allocation for public education, rather than redirect blame or continue to excuse shortfalls.
Alberta’s education support workers give their all, every day, to ensure every student in Alberta has access to the highest quality educational experience possible. School working conditions are children’s learning conditions. Take action today to support public education in Alberta for all Alberta families: visit http://www.SupportEducationWorkers.ca
Joanne Lavkulich, President – Local1825 Holy Spirit Roman Catholic School Division
Trevor Clinton, President – Local 290 Holy Spirit Roman Catholic School Division and Lethbridge School Division
Juanita Kaminski, President – Local 2843 Lethbridge School Division
Lori Thompson, President – Local 3203 Horizon School Division
12-11
When you have these Reformers only interested in looking after themselves and their rich friends this what you get. It’s no secret that Albertans have been screwed out of $1.2 trillion while Alaska and Norway keep enjoying the fruits of their oil wealth. Too bad Albertans were dumb enough to allow it to happen, isn’t it? While we’ve tried to stop it these mindless seniors have hurled their sarcastic comments at us for not being as stupid as them and letting it happen.