Edmonton school board, union for support staff head back to bargaining table

The union representing school support workers in Edmonton says it has returned to the bargaining table with the city’s public school board.

Some 3,000 staff, from educational assistants to cafeteria workers, have been on picket lines since Jan. 13 over a wage dispute with the Edmonton Public School Board.

Tony Clark with the Canadian Union of Public Employees says it’s demanding a liveable wage after “years of zeros and near zeros.”

The union has said the average education support worker in Alberta makes $34,500 per year and educational assistants $26,400 per year.

School board superintendent Darrel Robertson says he’s looking forward to meeting with the union and is hopeful they can reach a deal.

The strike has been backed by the Alberta Teachers’ Association and school board trustee Trisha Estabrooks, who resigned from her post Wednesday to stand in solidarity with workers.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 23, 2025.