Fort McMurray Catholic School Division Releases Offer to Striking Support Staff

FORT MCMURRAY, AB — The Fort McMurray Catholic School Division (FMCSD) has made public the details of its latest offer to striking school support staff. The division is now inviting the union to return to the bargaining table with a counterproposal.

According to an update posted on the division’s website, FMCSD is offering members of CUPE Local 2559 a 14 per cent wage increase, with an immediate 5.8 per cent raise plus any applicable retroactive pay. The remaining increases would be spaced out over four years. The division is also proposing enhanced health and wellness benefits, with the new collective agreement set to run until 2028.

FMCSD states that the offer was presented to CUPE Local 2559 on January 24th and they say they are eager to continue negotiations to reach a resolution. The division is encouraging the union to submit a counteroffer soon so discussions can progress quickly.

The release of FMCSD’s offer follows a similar move by the Fort McMurray Public School Division last week when it shared details of its proposal with parents. That announcement led CUPE to accuse the division of negotiating in bad faith.

The ongoing labour dispute has left schools without key support staff like education assistants, IT specialists, and custodians, affecting schools across both the Catholic and Public divisions.