Assist employees with the Foothills School Division have been on strike since Feb. 24 and whereas staff hit the picket strains, lots of the kids they assist aren’t in a position to attend college.
Jamie Hanson’s 11-year-old son hasn’t been to class for the reason that job motion started.
Regardless of the disruption, Hanson and her son Cale confirmed assist on the picket line in High River on Friday and demanding a dwelling wage for the assist staff they says are essential to Cale’s success at school.
“I’m not in a position to be on the picket strains the total period of time due to my different job, however I believe it’s essential for him to grasp what we’re doing and assist the individuals who assist him,” mentioned Hanson.
Many assist staffers equivalent to instructional assistants have second, and in some instances third jobs, with a view to make ends’ meet. In response to the Canadian Union of Provincial Workers, the typical EA make between $31,000 and $43,000 a yr — barely above minimal wage.
That earnings has been the massive sticking level at bargaining tables in Fort McMurray, Edmonton, Calgary, and communities in-between.
Because of this, 280 staff from Foothills College Division are concerned within the job motion. They’re amongst the 6,600 CUPE schooling staff throughout the province who’re combating for higher working circumstances and wages.
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That features instructional assistants, profession expertise instructors, youth improvement coaches, custodial staff and workplace directors.
Carla Penhalagan is the President of CUPE Native 5040, and an academic assistant, and mentioned EA’s haven’t had a elevate in a decade.
Penhalagan mentioned whereas contracts are negotiated with every college division individually within the province, the Alberta authorities has capped what college boards can provide.
”College divisions are solely allowed to supply upwards of three per cent, three per cent, three per cent and that’s over 4 years. In the event that they deviate from that there are fines and penalties for these particular person college divisions,” mentioned Penhalagan.
“We’re asking for the appropriate to discount freely.”
And for folks of scholars with complicated wants, the job motion means a disruption within the day by day college routine — which, within the case of children dwelling on the Autism spectrum, could be a enormous disruption. For different children, they’ll’t security be at college with out an EA to help them with day by day duties.
Hanson says whereas the college will permit Cale to attend an hour on some days, and as much as half a day on others, he received’t return to class till the individuals he trusts most are again at school too.
“You must have hands-on expertise: if he falls out of a standing body wheelchair or walker, then what? Then I’m dwelling with a child with an harm,” Hanson mentioned.
Foothills College Division mentioned one-third of employees are at the moment concerned within the strike.
In an announcement, the division mentioned it’s working exhausting to stability sources and guarantee a secure studying surroundings for all college students.
“Faculties, in collaboration with households, will make each cheap effort to assist a continuity of studying whereas balancing security issues and operational realities. This stability is all the time thought-about in individualized scholar studying plans, even throughout regular circumstances. “ the assertion reads.
The job motion south of Calgary is now into its third week.
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