EPSB staff walk off the job during dispute inquiry [Video]

Some Edmonton public school support staff walked off the job Thursday morning, after the province stepped in on Wednesday to prevent strike action.

• Download our app to get Edmonton alerts on your device  

Cupe Local 3550, which represents educational support staff in Edmonton public schools, said members chose to participate in a political protest against provincial wage mandates and what they called “interference in collective bargaining.”

CUPE Local 3550 members voted overwhelmingly in support of strike action on Oct. 18, after wage negotiations with the school board stalled.

The Edmonton Public School Board applied for an Disputes Inquiry Board (DIB), a third-party process to help with bargaining, and was granted one by the province on Wednesday.

Because it was approved before strike action, members were prohibited from striking before the inquiry was complete.

The union has called the DIB a delay tactic.

On its website Thursday, the union explainedthat members agreed collectively to take part in the day of protest, despite the impact it would …