CUPE Alberta President Marle Roberts is putting her support behind the striking support staff at the Edmonton Catholic School Board.
“CUPE represents over 7,000 K-12 staff in Alberta,” said Roberts. “The issues in this strike are the same as the issues faced by our members.”
Roberts says Educational Assistants in school districts across the province have seen their hours reduced as budgets have tightened.
“When the Educational Assistants are cut back, it’s not just the worker who suffers,” said Roberts. “Special needs students don’t get the attention they need and all students are left with fewer classroom resources.”
Roberts said CUPE members are watching the strike by the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers union closely.
“We know that next time it could be us, and will likely be us if the provincial government doesn’t increase education funding.”
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Contact: Lou Arab
Communications Representative
780.271.2722