72-hour strike notice to be served by union representing Parkland school support staff

The union representing school support workers in the Parkland School Division will serve a 72-hour strike notice on Friday.

More than 90 per cent of 400 educational assistants and support staff voted in favour of job action earlier this week.

CUPE 5543 expects to begin “work to rule” actions on Tuesday, meaning staff will be asked not to work beyond the hours they’re paid for.

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The Black Gold School Division and three other school districts in the Calgary area also voted to strike this week but have not served notice, and thousands of Edmonton area and Fort McMurray school support workers have been on strike for weeks.

• Parkland, Black Gold school support workers vote to strike

The job action, according to CUPE 5543 president Wendy Harman, is part of the union’s plans to escalate the strike until the Alberta government pays support staff more.

They earn an average of $34,500 in the province, she said.