Foothills School Division
All 9 unions that were on strike across Alberta have finalized and ratified their Agreements. For the most part, the unions came to the same terms regarding wages.
CUPE Alberta has the results posted on their website. Use the link: Wage Agreements Across Alberta
Holly Paulgaard has put together a video that shows our courage, our hope and our ability to come together and unite as one. Please watch and share. Keep tissues handy.
Support staff were treated to an amazing show of support from students and staff at Spitzee School in High River on Thursday, March 13.
Video is unavailable due to FOIP. Thanks for understanding.
Teacher Support – Do’s and Don’ts
These education support workers work closely with teachers, and we are natural allies in their struggle to achieve a fair negotiated agreement. It is hardly surprising, then, that teachers are asking how we can show solidarity with our coworkers even as teachers in affected schools are having to manage the impact of the strike on their classrooms and on the work they are required to do.
Read the entire article here: ATA News
Foothills Superintendent Christopher Fuzessy responded to an email from one of our members.
CUPE has penned a letter to the parents of our students and shared it on Support Education Workers media platforms.
Education Support Workers have been on the front lines, seeing the impacts of underfunding on student success and classroom conditions. Due to provincial education funding not keeping up with student enrolment growth, Alberta students are now the lowest funded in the country. The consequences of these shortfalls are getting worse. Trying to support more students, with complex needs, in fewer hours has led to students falling through the cracks.
Read the entire letter here.
Share the CUPE Take Action Kit
Share on your social media: FB Post
Many of our members have been diligently writing emails to MLAs around Alberta and in their own ridings with hopes to gain support and over rule the UCP’s ridiculous mandate of a maximum 3% wage cap. We have received some responses with great positivity, sharing that there are many MLAs that join CUPE lines and stand up for us un the legislature.
No one should have to choose between feeding their families and doing the job they love, and no child should suffer because the UCP government refuses to invest properly in public education.
The Alberta NDP will continue to stand with you, fight for better education funding, and push for real solutions to ensure that Education Assistants and all school staff receive the respect and support they deserve.
—-Jasvir Deol, MLA, Edmonton-Meadows
Some responses are posted here:
Watch the Global News segment here
With 300 CUPE support workers on strike, FSD has been exempted from providing an option for in-person learning for each student.
Read the article here: https://www.westernwheel.ca/local-news/foothills-school-division-receives-in-person-learning-exemption-10329647
The Lethbridge Herald put out an article today that is truly heartwarming and helps remind us why exactly we are on strike.
Read the article here: CUPE is fighting on behalf of Alberta’s students