Following four weeks on the picket line, Foothills school support staff returned to work today (March 24) after the end of a province-wide series of strikes.
Members of CUPE Local 5040, representing 300 Foothills School Division (FSD) education support staff that have been on strike since Feb. 24, reached a tentative agreement with the school district on March 19, which was ratified by both the union and the FSD board of trustees on March 21.
The agreement gives members 13.9 to 28.5 per cent raises over the span of the collective agreement, which is in effect from Sept. 1, 2024 to Aug. 31, 2028, according to CUPE.
"While it still leaves us behind the inflation rate, it is historically the best deal we’ve had," said Carla Penhalagan, president of CUPE Local 5040.
The new agreement, which also includes one additional paid family sick day, was ratified by the union's membership with a 68.4 per cent vote.
"The fact that the approval rate was not overwhelmingly positive despite solid voter turnout speaks to the deal not being one that adequately represents the worth of CUPE members," said Penhalagan.
CUPE Local 5040 members spent the last four weeks picketing throughout Foothills County, including at Foothills Composite High School in Okotoks, Oilfields High School in Diamond Valley and Highwood High School in High River.
The union returned to the bargaining table ahead of schedule as deals were reached between school districts and striking education workers throughout Alberta. Of the nine striking CUPE locals across the province, the Foothills workers were the last to reach a settlement.
In addition to CUPE Local 5040, education workers at Black Gold School Division (CUPE Local 3484), Calgary Board of Education (CUPE Local 40), Calgary Catholic School District (CUPE Local 520), Edmonton Public Schools (CUPE Local 3550), Fort McMurray Catholic Schools (CUPE Local 2559), Fort McMurray Public Schools (CUPE Local 2545), Parkland School Division (CUPE Local 5543) and Sturgeon School Division (CUPE Local 4625) went on strike, for a total of nearly 6,500 CUPE members across the province taking job action.
The strike was the longest in CUPE Alberta history, with 1,000 education support workers in Fort McMurray sparking the movement by striking since mid-November before ratifying a settlement on March 17.
FSD superintendent Chris Fuzessy welcomed the end of CUPE Local 5040's four-week job action in a statement.
"During the strike, our community faced challenges that tested our resilience and unity. I express my deep gratitude for the courage and dedication shown by our team. I am profoundly thankful for the contributions made by everyone involved. It is through such collective effort and determination that we discover our strength in collaboration and connection," said Fuzessy.
FSD non-teacher career and technology instructors, data facilitators, educational assistants, learning commons facilitators, office administrators, secretaries and youth development coaches are among the members of CUPE Local 5040.
"As professionals, we are eager to get back to the students and school communities that we have missed," said Penhalagan.
