-

Classroom complexity issue isn’t complex – CUPE

EDMONTON, AB--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The union representing 12,000 education workers in Alberta says a new report calling for additional classroom support is stating the obvious.

“There’s nothing new in this ‘new’ roadmap. We all know we need more staff in classrooms, and the UCP needs to make it happen,” said CUPE Alberta President Raj Uppal.

“The issue of classroom complexity isn’t all that complex. We need more staff, not more reports.”

Uppal said the strike by education support staff last winter and the teachers' strike last month were caused by UCP budget cuts.

“Alberta has had the lowest education funding levels in Canada for years,” said Uppal. “They keep promising more staff, and then they keep failing to deliver.”

Uppal says the government's promise of 1,500 new Educational Assistants is about half of what is needed to catch up to 2019 levels.

“We all know we need more staff in classrooms, and we all knew it back in 2023 when more staff were promised. The UCP needs to make it happen."

-30-

:clc/cope 491

Contacts

Contact: Lou Arab, Communications Representative
780.271.2722  | larab@cupe.ca

Industry:

Canadian Union of Public Employees

Release Versions
English

Contacts

Contact: Lou Arab, Communications Representative
780.271.2722  | larab@cupe.ca

More News From Canadian Union of Public Employees

Northside Community Guest Home Workers Vote to Strike

SYDNEY, NS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Long term care workers from Northside Community Guest Home, represented by Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) 1876, voted 97% in favour of a strike mandate, citing low wages and overwork due to understaffing as their main issues. “The last thing we want is to end up on strike,” admitted CUPE 1876 President Wanda Bond, “but the reality is that long term care workers are at their breaking point. Not just here, but across the province. We are stretched thin due...

Lockeport Long Term Care Workers Vote to Strike

LOCKEPORT, NS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Surf Lodge Long Term Care workers, represented by Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) 3257, voted 100% in favour of a strike mandate. CUPE 3257 is fighting for fair wages that acknowledge their pivotal role in the health care system and improved recruitment and retention to reduce mandatory overtime issues. “Every day, long term care workers, whether LPNs, CCAs, Cooks, Ward Clerks, or Laundry workers, come to work and play an instrumental role in taking car...

Beaver Bank Long Term Care Workers Vote to Strike

HALIFAX, NS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ivy Meadows long term care workers, represented by Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) 3618, voted 94% in favour of a strike mandate last week, joining a dozen other CUPE locals province-wide in their fight for fair wages and improved recruitment and retention. “It’s disheartening to know that we’re the lowest paid long term care workers in the Atlantic provinces and have the government do nothing about it,” admitted CUPE 3618 President Denise Tanner. “We’re...
Back to Newsroom