Education Support workers in Edmonton, ft McMurray, and multiple other CUPE locals are on strike or nearing strike position. The Edmonton picket lines have over 500 workers and are very energetic. With the schools open (because the teachers union (ATA) has told teachers they must cross the picket line and work), it is an uphill battle. But the strength of the locals is that they are broadening the attack to the UCP and openely pointing the finger to the provincially mandated wage increases.
This opens up the fight to the province. Many other locals are in bargaining, and some are even preparing to join the education workers on the picket line in the next few weeks. But there are also nurses, teachers, provincial employers like social workers, and others, whose fight is ultimately with the low wage mandates of the UCP. However, fighting an isolated battle against a behemoth like the government is nearly impossible. The fight must broaden to other public sector unions. What we need is a general strike to bring down the UCP.
