(Fort McMurray, AB - Oct. 16th, 2024) The Fort McMurray Public School Division (FMPSD) remains resolute in our commitment to engage with CUPE Local 2545 and address the unresolved items in our negotiations.
The government-appointed Disputes Inquiry Board (DIB) has prepared its recommendations for settlement to FMPSD and CUPE Local 2545. On October 16th, CUPE Local 2545 informed the Labour Board that they have rejected the recommendations of the Disputes Inquiry Board, and requested the Disputes Inquiry Board to call a vote on the recommendations. The Division awaits the results of the vote.
The Disputes Inquiry Board (DIB) recommendations and comments are as follows:
“The parties have already agreed on a number of changes to the Collective Agreement including an expiry date of August 31, 2024. In addition to those changes, with respect to the matters in dispute, I recommend that the Union and the Employer accept the following changes:
- Shift differentials: the shift differentials should be increased to the following amounts in Article 16.08:
- Afternoon shift: $1 per hour.
- Night shift: $1.50 per hour
- Weekend shift: 75 cents per hour
- General Holidays: the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation should be added to the list of named General Holidays in Article 18:01 of the Collective Agreement.
- Wage Increases:
- Effective February 1, 2024: 2.75 % increase
- Effective August 31, 2024: .75 % increase
- Total: 3.5 % increase.
The Employer’s two-tier wage grid should not be implemented.
Retroactivity should be paid to all employees in the bargaining unit who are employed by the School District on the date the Collective Agreement is fully ratified.
I don’t recommend any other changes to the Collective Agreement with respect to the matters in dispute.
In this case, the current Collective Agreement between the School District expired on August 31, 2021. The parties agree that the term of their new Collective Agreement will have expired on August 31, 2024. This means that the parties are 3 years behind on collective bargaining. My observation is that for sound labour relations, the parties need to resolve the current dispute, get caught-up, and move forward in bargaining a new Collective Agreement in a timelier way.
The opportunity to begin bargaining essentially immediately for a new Collective Agreement
commencing September 1, 2024, provides both the Union and the Employer with a new and important opportunity to more effectively address the issues that currently divide them, including compensation.
It is clear to me that if the Employer, CUPE, and the bargaining unit members do not all accept the recommendations set out in this report, then it is highly likely that there will be a strike commencing very quickly thereafter. It is a reality of labour relations that sometimes a strike or lockout is necessary.
However, in considering whether to accept the recommendations, I urge both parties to carefully and seriously consider the negative impact of any strike. In particular:
- The length of strikes and lockouts are notoriously difficult to predict. If there is to be a strike, I truly hope that it is short in duration. However, given how far apart the parties are in collective bargaining, the parties must accept the reality that there is a risk that a strike could be lengthy.
- The strike is likely to be highly disruptive to the School Division’s overall operations. This is especially the case given the “wall-to-wall” nature of the bargaining unit, unlike some other bargaining units in educational support services.
- The employees will not receive their wages for the duration of the strike, creating the potential for employees being placed under intense economic stress for an uncertain period of time. It is highly uncertain whether any economic gains through the strike will make up for the loss of wages.
- The employees in the bargaining unit play an important and key role in ensuring the smooth and effective operation of the educational system. The withdrawal of their services is likely to be highly disruptive to students and their families. And we must remember that it is the students who are intended to be served by the educational system.
- Some of the most vulnerable individuals in our society are students with special needs. Many of these students will be unable to attend school if there are no educational aides to assist. This means that a strike will interfere with the education of these students.
I urge the parties to take these impacts into account when deciding whether to accept the recommendations in this report.”
We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work through this process. Rest assured, we are dedicated to keeping all staff and families informed as new information becomes available.
Thank you for your continued support.
For further information or inquiries, please contact:
Office of the Superintendent
Fort McMurray Public School Division
780-788-8009
info@fmpsd.ab.ca