Dear Colleagues,

We are writing to you today as fellow CBE education workers who have decided to publicly step forward in support of switching from our current Staff Association to join CUPE.

For months, many of us have been quietly organizing because we believe CUPE can provide us with the supports, resources, and protections that we simply don’t have with our Staff Association.  Now, we are coming forward to show you that we’re committed to this effort, and we encourage you to join us.

We understand that making the switch to CUPE can feel like a big leap, especially if you’re uncertain about what it means or worried about potential risks.  That’s exactly why we’re outing ourselves as part of this campaign—to show you that many of your coworkers, people you know and work with every day, are already behind this effort.

At CUPE, nothing happens without the input and voice of the members.  We’ve seen firsthand the limitations of our Staff Association.  With CUPE, we will have access to the resources, legal supports, and organizing strength of Canada’s largest union.

CUPE can empower us to collectively negotiate for better wages, improved working conditions, and real job security, ensuring that decisions reflect the priorities of the workers we represent.

This isn’t just about representation—it’s about having a strong, experienced team in our corner to help us build the workplace we deserve.

To those of you who are still unsure, we understand your hesitation.  Change can feel uncertain, and fear of retaliation is real.  But by standing together and joining CUPE, we will gain protections that the Association simply can’t provide.  We will have a stronger voice to make meaningful changes and ensure decisions about our work are made with us, not for us.

We’re stepping forward to make it clear that we’re in this together and to show that the fear of stepping up doesn’t have to hold us back.  Together, we can make this transition to CUPE and create a better future for all of us.

In solidarity,

Years of zeros and the government’s wage directives have set workers back. A decade of 0%, 1% or 2% has meant going backwards in real dollars, since cost of living increases have been significantly higher.

Most public-sector workers in Alberta have a weaker purchasing power and lower real wages now than they did 10 years ago.

Workers are finding it harder and harder to make ends meet and it is not sustainable. Recent high inflation of 6.4% percent in 2022 and 3.3% percent in 2023 has only made the situation worse.

Join us in taking a stand to raise wages and increase the collective purchasing power of workers.  Visit and sign up at https://site.wagingahead.ca/

CUPE 2550 WINS DEAL THAT PUTS STUDENTS FIRST

Union successfully pushes back on school division’s wage cut proposal in late-night Labour Day negotiations.

ST. ALBERT — Yesterday morning, CUPE 2550 and the Greater St. Albert Catholic School Division reached a deal that averted strike action. The union successfully pushed back on a proposal that would have seen some new staff take a ten percent wage reduction. The new agreement will now provide better wages to all staff.

“In June, our members voted to strike because we knew that wage cuts would impact our students and families,” said CUPE 2550 President Mary Morin. “I’m so proud of our members who stood together so that we could achieve a deal that’s good for staff, students and parents.”

Under the new agreement, members will receive their first raise in almost nine years and no member will be facing a reduction in wages. By successfully fighting back against wage cuts for new members, the union ensured that the school division would not create further recruitment and retention issues that would impact student learning.

“School Divisions are challenged to recruit and retain education support staff because wages are still too low. There is still work to do to ensure our members receive a fair wage that allows them to focus on their students and not a second our third job. We look forward to bargaining the next contract this fall with the division,” said Morin.

School support staff are some of the most poorly paid workers across Alberta. With the new agreement already expired, CUPE 2550 is keen to work with parents and allies to fight for fair wages and quality public education for families in Morinville and Legal at the bargaining table.

On June 26, 2024, the union representing 10,000 school support workers served simultaneous notice to bargain to 41 school districts for the contracts of education workers. CUPE represents school administrative staff, educational assistants, custodial workers and other classifications in the school system.

CUPE Alberta President Rory Gill explained that the 41 different CUPE Locals have never engaged in this level of co-ordination, but said the notice represents an historic shift in the union’s approach.

“We’re not going to let the province pick us apart one school district at a time,” said Gill. “Our members are determined to get the respect they deserve.”

Gill said the average education worker in Alberta makes $34,000 a year. According to provincial government figures, Educational Assistants make only $27,000.

“Poverty level wages and a decade of losing ground to inflation has changed our approach,” said Gill. “Our locals are working together and will stand together as we fight for salaries that pay the rent.”

“Education workers play a key role in our schools,” said Gill. “But too many of them are working multiple jobs or relying upon the food bank. It’s shameful the lack of respect we pay to people with such a high level of responsibility and passion for students.”