Alberta union asserts that educational aides will not assume teacher responsibilities during a potential strike.
The Bank of Canada has delivered its first interest rate cut since March, but the Canadian economy might face a different challenge as Alberta grapples with an ongoing education crisis.
Thousands of education support workers, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) in Alberta, went on strike earlier this year, demanding better wages and working conditions. However, a resolution regarding their demands has yet to be reached.
The union, which includes educational assistants, is now seeking clarification on duties that may overlap with teachers, and has advised its members to refuse teachers' pay teachers work. This has led to Alberta parents making arrangements for their kids ahead of a potential teachers' strike.
Meanwhile, the Alberta provincial government has offered teachers a wage deal and is hiring more educators to reduce overcrowding in schools. The union currently negotiating with the Alberta government to improve teachers' wages and working conditions is the Alberta Teachers' Association (ATA).
The union for educational assistants in Alberta has not yet clarified the specific areas where their duties may overlap with teachers, nor has it announced plans to help schools if teachers walk off the job next month. This has led to accusations from the provincial government that the union is making false claims. The government has taken the union to the labour board over these accusations.
CUPE Alberta president Raj Uppal has stated that the union supports teachers and will help them improve classroom conditions. However, the union's recent strike did not result in a resolution regarding their demands for better wages and working conditions.
In a separate development, the U.S. is launching consultations for the CUSMA review ahead of the scheduled trade pact review. Canada will also seek public input on the CUSMA review.
A TDSB trustee has reacted to the provincial government takeover, while Alberta is defending the use of the notwithstanding clause in arguments for the Bill 21 Supreme Court case.
Tune in to Global Okanagan News at 5:30 on September 11 for the latest updates on this developing story.
