Custodial workers at 2 Calgary school districts serve strike notice on Wednesday

Custodial and maintenance workers at the Calgary Board of Education (CBE) and the Calgary Catholic School District (CCSD) issued a 72-hour strike notice on Wednesday and will be in a position for job action beginning Saturday.

In a statement sent Wednesday morning, Lou Arab, a spokesperson with the Canadian Union of Public Workers (CUPE) said 94.5 per cent of about 800 CBE employees and CUPE Local 40 members voted in favour of a strike last week.

An additional 350 employees of CCSD, who are members of CUPE Local 520, voted 94 per cent in favour of a strike. 

"We respect the collective bargaining process and remain committed to reaching a fair agreement that supports our CUPE employees," reads a statement from the school district.

"Our schools will remain open, and our priority is to minimize any disruptions for our students and staff."

A spokesperson with the CCSD said they will have a contingency plan in place and continue to engage in negotiations.

CUPE Alberta President Rory Gill said the union expects workers to walk out on Monday morning and picket line locations will be announced later this week.

In a statement, the CBE told CBC News that it will prioritize in-person learning, and all of its schools and buildings will remain open with classes continuing.

"The strike will have an impact on school operations," reads a statement from the CBE.  

"We are committed to keeping schools safe for students and staff and complying with AHS guidelines and occupational health and safety regulations."

The school board said public rentals of CBE school spaces will be cancelled. This includes City of Calgary School Connections YYC permits.

On Tuesday, 400 members with CUPE Local 5543 began a work-to-rule job action at Parkland School Division, west of Edmonton, avoiding overtime and volunteering at work.

Thousands of school support workers are already on strike elsewhere in Alberta.

"We have told [the government] over and over again that they need to come to the table and fix this problem or else this strike in Edmonton and Fort McMurray is going to spread to Calgary," said Arab.

"They did not take our advice and the strike is now spreading to Calgary."

CUPE Alberta says workers don't want to strike but haven't had a wage increase in years.

Treasury Board President Nate Horner and Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides have accused the union's national leadership of interfering in local negotiations and using fear tactics and intimidation to prevent deals from being signed.

In a joint statement sent Wednesday, a spokesperson for the ministers said they cannot work with CUPE because they don't negotiate with CUPE, explaining the union negotiates directly with school boards.

"Alberta's government and school boards have shown up to the table to find a path forward," the statement reads. 

"But CUPE national leaders clearly have ulterior motives that are not in the best interests of their members or Alberta students."