Alberta education workers reach tentative deals with 3 school districts
CBC
The union representing thousands of education support workers across Alberta has reached a tentative deal with the Edmonton Public, Fort McMurray Public and Fort McMurray Catholic school districts.
In a statement released Saturday night, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) said the deals will still need to be ratified by members and details of the agreement will won't be released until workers have been able to review them. However, the union said the tentative deals include a provision for higher wages.
About 3,000 CUPE members have been on strike at Edmonton Public Schools since January 13 and another 1,000 members in Fort McMurray have been on strike since mid-November. With the average education support worker earning $34,500 per year in Alberta, the union has said that wages are its main issue.
In Fort McMurray, workers will vote on the proposed deal over a 24-hour period ending Monday evening and picket lines will be paused on Monday and Tuesday. If ratified, members in Fort McMurray will return to work on Wednesday, CUPE said.
The union said that for workers at Edmonton Public Schools, the ratification vote will happen on Monday or Tuesday and a return to work could start on Wednesday or Thursday. No picket lines will be held in the meantime, it added.
All three deals would give the CUPE members a contract ends in August 2028.
The settlements do not apply to the 2,600 workers still on strike in the Calgary, Sturgeon, Parkland, Foothills, and Black Gold school divisions, CUPE said.
Both school divisions in Fort McMurray posted statements on their websites.
"Today we are happy to share that we were able to end our week negotiating a resolution with CUPE Local 2545," Fort McMurray Public School Division said in its statement.
"Thank you for your grace, patience and understanding ... We recognize how difficult and prolonged this situation has been for all," reads the Fort McMurray Catholic Schools' statement.
"We are extremely grateful that a tentative resolution has been found that may bring all students and our valued support staff back to school as soon as possible."
CBC News has reached out to Edmonton Public Schools for comment.
In the early evening of Feb. 22, 2020, DeBrae Burns was driving with his brother and cousin along Highway 3 outside the town of Satartia, Miss., when they saw a nearby explosion.
The damage done by Donald Trump's chaotic tariff war has Ontario businesses looking for new trading partners and allies, in the midst of deep uncertainty caused by the conflict.
Troyhann Santos checks the federal government's latest list of counter-tariffs and makes a crushing discovery. Starting immediately, she'll have to pay a 25 per cent tariff on most merchandise coming into her lacrosse equipment store, Lax Shack, in Pickering, Ont.
Police are investigating after a fire at a home on Bauline Line in Torbay, N.L. on Friday.
When the Angus L. Macdonald bridge reopens to traffic on Monday, there will be no tolls for the first time in its 70-year history.
Canadian crab and lobster industry representatives, including some from New Brunswick, will be looking for answers and opportunities at a seafood exhibition in Boston.
The sign at the village's entrance says "Elbow Welcomes You" and, indeed, Joan Soggie wants every Canadian to visit her hometown to throw some elbows.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority is warning the public of a measles virus exposure in Swift Current.
The union representing thousands of education support workers across Alberta has reached a tentative deal with the Edmonton Public, Fort McMurray Public and Fort McMurray Catholic school districts.
Just over a week after three masked men walked into a Scarborough, Ont., pub and opened fire on the crowd inside, the establishment has issued a statement saying the business is co-operating with the police investigation and its "thoughts are with everyone affected."
Just days after being sworn into office, Prime Minister Mark Carney will embark on his first trip abroad in the new job. Carney's office says he'll travel to Paris, then to London where he's expected to meet with King Charles only weeks after his predecessor, Justin Trudeau, held his own meeting with the monarch.
Fans at Toronto FC's home opener against the Chicago Fire showed their displeasure at the U.S. by booing The Star-Spangled Banner on Saturday.
Multiple people have been shot in Fort Providence, N.W.T., according to the hamlet's senior administrative officer.