Fort McMurray educational staff hit picket lines, call for better wages [Video]

Fort McMurray educational staff went on strike Wednesday – almost two months after they voted to take job action.

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CUPE Locals 2545 and 2559 represent education staff – like librarians, maintenance workers and educational assistants – in Fort McMurray’s public and Catholic schools.

The rotating strike will affect staffing at different Catholic and public schools each day, with members picketing for “safer schools, fair wages and respect.”

According to CUPE, the public school division delivered a lockout vote notice to Local 2545 members, but there’s no word yet on when trustees are expected to vote on it.

On Friday, CUPE Local 2545 president Lynn Fleet said in a press release that workers will carry out the strike as planned and “respond to the lockout vote as events unfold.”

“In the meantime, we urge parents, supporters and the …