Custodial and maintenance workers reach tentative deals with Calgary's two largest school boards

Striking custodial and maintenance workers at the Calgary Board of Education (CBE) and the Calgary Catholic School District (CCSD) may soon be back on the job after their union reached tentative deals with both school boards.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) announced on Tuesday morning that it had reached tentative agreements with both the CBE and the Parkland School Division, west of Edmonton. The agreements, which would end a three-week work stoppage, are for a three-year term ending in August 2028.

Later in the day, it announced a similar deal had been reached with the CCSD.

More than 1,100 custodial and maintenance workers from Calgary's public and Catholic school divisions went on strike in February, arguing they haven't received a wage increase in years. The striking workers included cleaners, plumbers, tradespeople, facility operators, mechanics and members working on ground maintenance and snow removal.

Members of CUPE Local 40 still need to agree to ratify the deal with the CBE. The union will hold an electronic ratification vote on Tuesday night, with results announced the following evening. If approved, the workers would return to Calgary public schools on Friday.

Members of CUPE Local 520 are set to hold a ratification meeting on Thursday on the CCSD agreement. If members approve the deal, the union says employees will return to work on Monday.

CUPE Alberta president Rory Gill said on Tuesday that his union's members made it clear throughout the past few weeks they were serious with the school boards and province about needing better wages, which has resulted in new deals for striking education workers around Alberta.

"These have been very long strikes, incredibly tough struggles for our members," Gill said. "But they've maintained their determination, their strength and their solidarity, and it's paying off. It's paying off in decent living wages and proper funding for public education."

The CBE confirmed the new tentative collective agreement on Tuesday morning, adding that it must also be ratified by the CBE's board of trustees before it takes effect. The CBE noted on Tuesday that picket lines are suspended at its schools and workplaces.

CUPE Local 5543, representing Parkland School Division employees, will hold a ratification vote of their own beginning Tuesday afternoon.

More details about the new deals will be released after union members have reviewed them, Gill said. But CUPE noted the agreements are for a wage package higher than what the provincial government originally mandated.

Calgary Eyeopener8:05Ongoing education strikes

We hear what agreements in Edmonton and Fort Mac mean for striking school workers in the Calgary area.

The new agreements follow thousands of education support workers across Alberta reaching a tentative deal of their own with the Edmonton Public, Fort McMurray Public and Fort McMurray Catholic school districts on Saturday. CUPE's agreement with the Fort McMurray school boards was ratified this week, which will bring them back to work on Wednesday.

CUPE 3550 members at Edmonton Public Schools will vote on their tentative agreement on Wednesday. If accepted, the Edmonton public school workers on strike will return to work on Thursday.

Strikes remain ongoing for CUPE workers with the Black Gold School Division in central Alberta and Foothills School Division south of Calgary.

Thousands of education workers have been on strike in Edmonton and Fort McMurray since mid-November. Around the province, CUPE has noted the average education support worker earns $34,500 per year.

Alberta's Minister of Finance Nate Horner and Minister of Education Demetrios Nicolaides said in a joint statement on Tuesday they were pleased to see, after months of negotiations, education workers will receive raises and return to work if the agreements are ratified.

 "The Government of Alberta welcomes the return to normalcy for tens of thousands of students, staff, and families," Horner and Nicolaides said in an emailed statement.

"We encourage the remaining districts and locals that are experiencing job action to continue to collaborate toward an equitable deal."