Warning message

Please note that this page is from our archives. There may be more up-to-date content about this topic on our website. Use our search engine to find out.
CUPE Local 474 has told the Edmonton Public School District that fighting public private partnerships is central to preserving high-quality public education.

At the annual budget hearings held January 14, the local, which represents 600 schools custodians, presented the board with 15 recommendations. Chief among them was a proposal to work with the board in opposing the province’s plans to introduce public private partnerships for new school construction.

“Hidden costs accompanied by significant loss of control are just a few examples of the problems with public private partnerships,” says local president Doug Luellman.

“The provincial government is determined to paper over education under-funding with the introduction of market mechanisms such as voucher funding and public private partnerships. However, these represent serious threats to public accountability, equal access to quality education and sustainability.”