02/26/2025
Important Bargaining Information:
Answers to Common Questions
First Document
Question: What is the happening in the bargaining process right now?
Answer: Mediation is booked the 1st week of March for all the Lethbridge locals. There are 5 more locals in the province that have voted to strike, joining the 4 locals that are on strike right now. That means more than half the CUPE education support workers in Alberta have voted to strike.
Where mediation is unsuccessful in creating a deal the earliest date when a strike vote could occur, after the two-week cooling off period, would be around the last week of March. After the vote we are required to give 72-hour notice before commencing a strike.
Question: Does a job action, like a strike, actually have any effect on the bargaining process?
Answer: Taking job action when negotiations break down is our greatest power as workers. During a strike, a strong presence on the picket line sends a sends a clear message to the Employer and Government that the bargaining team has strong support from the members. As the saying goes, âthe longer the line, the shorter the strike.â
Question: How much time do members need to spend on the picket line?
Answer: In order to qualify for full strike pay, you must be on the picket line 4 hours, for 5 days of the week, for a total of 20 hours.
Question: How much is strike pay?
Answer: Strike pay is 100% non-taxable. Pay is $350 per week, for the first 5 weeks. Starting on the 6th week - $375, 12th week- $400, 16th week $450.
Question: What would happen to memberâs employer provided benefit during job action?
Answer: For benefit and pension contributions, your Bargaining Committee will work to have an agreement in place with the employer as to what happens to both partiesâ contributions during a work stoppage.
Second Document
Question: What can members do to alleviate financial concerns during job action?
Answer:
Housing
Do you rent?
If your landlord is sympathetic, figure out a reasonable budget with a rent amount that works for both of your or try to get an agreement that your rent payment will be postponed until after the strike. If necessary, negotiate a reasonable âcatch upâ rate, which will be determined, in part, by how long you are out.
Do you have a mortgage?
Check what the terms are for minimum payments with your lender. Can you make interest-only payments? Is strike insurance available or a payment relief program available from your lender?
Do you live in a co-op?
If you live in a condo or co-op or other property with monthly fees, approach the Board of your housing organization or property management company to see if there is any flexibility to reduce/defer these payments.
Utilities
Inquire about potential penalties that will be imposed and/or minimum payments the utility requires. Determine how long you can go without payment before a âfinal noticeâ and service cut-off.
In some jurisdictions, it is illegal to cut off a utility during winter months, even if the customer doesnât pay. In the case of electrical power, utilities will sometimes âbrown outâ the customer in arrears, so that they only have enough âjuiceâ to run the heat, but nothing else. However, once the season changes, these services can be cut off.
Debt payments
If you are carrying short-term debt, try to pay it off before any work stoppage. Consider consolidating your debt with a lower interest payment option. Explore your options for lines of credit and overdraft options.
If you can, apply to increase the size of an available lower interest line of credit/overdraft in advance of any work stoppage while you can demonstrate steady income. If you have longer term loans, for vehicles or other events or projects, find out what relief (if any) you can get from principal payments or interest payments and if there is insurance available for work stoppages.
Credit cards
Even if you normally pay off your credit cards each month, you may not be able to do so during a work stoppage. Check out what provisions, if any, your credit cards have for payment relief in the event of a work stoppage, or if insurance is available.
You can also look for a card with a lower interest rate or see if you can obtain a lower interest product (like a loan/line of credit.) Make sure you apply while you are still actively working.
Taxes
If you are on a payment plan with Canada Revenue Agency for personal income tax, do not expect leniency. If you are subject to property taxes, determine the schedule of any property tax payments you are responsible for, and the consequences of missed or partial payments.
Automated contributions
Determine what payments are being deducted off your pay cheque. You may have RRSPs, charitable donations, pension contributions, benefit premiums, Canada Savings Bonds or installment plans.
For all other payments, look into what you would happen in the case of a strike. Can you suspend some during a work stoppage?
Other bills and expenses
Get a good handle on your spending patterns. Find out which expenses can be deferred. Prioritize expenses to help you figure out your work stoppage budget. Some services can be temporarily suspended for a small fee such as a gym membership or television subscription.
Childcare/elder care and other arrangements
Contact the agency that provides your family with elder or childcare services and discuss your situation. See if you can reduce your level of service and find out what you need to do to increase your hours of service again once the work stoppage ends.
Talk to your Strike Committee about joint childcare during the strike.
Child/spousal support
Payment schedules for child and spousal support are usually part of a written separation agreement or court order. The inability to make payments can create problems, but in many cases they should be solvable.
If you are on good terms with the other parent/former spouse, explain the situation to them and see if they will agree to have the payments temporarily suspended or reduced to something you can afford during the strike. Even if they agree, itâs a good idea to put your agreement in writing, and both of you should sign it.
If you are on bad terms with the other parent/former spouse, you probably want to consult with a family lawyer about your situation. If you donât have easy access to a family lawyer, see if there is a free legal aid clinic in your community.
If you are subject to garnishment orders or a provincial maintenance enforcement program, speak to your case worker or someone at the appropriate government office about your situation.
Third Document
Question: What can we, as members, do to support the Bargaining Committee?
Answer: Please get involved! The Bargaining Committee cannot do this alone. If you have any skillsets that could be of assistance please donât hesitate to reach our to the Bargaining Committee. Areas where assistance is crucially needed include:
Picket captains
-Training will be provided
-Responsible for a group of people during job action while on the picket line
-Ensuring people sign in and out
-Ensuring group stays engaged
Volunteers for the Bargaining Support Committee
- Social media support
-Taking pictures, making videos and sending them to [email protected].
-Monitoring news, posts, etc. about CUPE and the strike
-Donation collection
-Collecting monetary donations,
-Collecting, disturbing, and documenting pantry items
-Finding donations and delivering thank-you notes
-Financial aids
-Responsible for organizing strike pay
-Providing budget counselling to members on strike pay
-First Aiders
-to assist on the picket line
-Picket sign makers and chant/cheer makers
-help make our message clear on signs, and banners
-Administrative assistance (Office duties)
-Organizing paperwork, organizing logistics for job action (flags, tents, etc.)
-Print out maps of route and picket boundaries
-Inventory of strike items
-Contacting members who havenât picketed
-Tracking hours
-Anecdote collectors
-collect stories and quotes from members about the challenges of living with current wages in todayâs economy and send them to [email protected].
