Custodial workers serve strike notice to Calgary public, Catholic school divisions

CUPE has served strike notice for more than 1,000 custodians and maintenance workers in Calgary. Jacqueline Wilson reports.

More than 1,000 custodians and maintenance workers are set to strike, serving the Calgary Board of Education (CBE) and the Calgary Catholic School District (CCSD) with a 72-hour strike notice.

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The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents the 800 CBE workers and 350 CCSD workers, said each local voted about 94 per cent in favour of strike action last week.

The workers are expected to walk off the job on Monday morning, joining the more than 4,000 education support workers currently on picket lines in Edmonton and Fort McMurray.

Rory Gill, CUPE’s president, said his members don’t want to strike, but because of the fact they’ve been left “on the edge of poverty,” many have no choice.

“Unfortunately, the province doesn’t seem to respect the role of education support workers. So that leaves us little option but to escalate the strike,” he said in a news release Wednesday.

CTV News reached out to the affected school boards.

The CCSD said it is aware of the 72-hour strike notice.

“We respect the collective bargaining process and remain committed to reaching a fair agreement that supports our CUPE employees. Our schools will remain open, and our priority is to minimize any disruptions for our students and staff,” a spokesperson said in an email.

The CCSD said it has “a contingency plan” to keep facilities clean and safe.

The CBE has not yet responded to the inquiry.

According to CUPE, the average school support worker earns approximately $34,500.

The union says as the labour dispute continues, there may be some impact to community events at schools over the weekend.