Support Staff to Return to Work Wednesday

Updated: 9:00 p.m. March 17, 2025

Fort McMurray, AB. — Education support workers with both the Fort McMurray Public and Catholic School Divisions have voted to accept new collective agreements and will return to work this week.

The agreements come after a weekend of bargaining between CUPE Local 2545, representing staff at the Fort McMurray Public School Division, and CUPE Local 2559, representing staff at the Fort McMurray Catholic School Division. Two separate tentative agreements were reached late Saturday evening, March 15.

Union members began voting on the ratification of their respective agreements yesterday, with voting concluding this evening. Both Locals voted to accept the offers.

The new collective agreements will see support workers return to schools on Wednesday. The agreements are set to run until 2028.

Rory Gill, President of CUPE Alberta says both collective agreements have wages that are higher than the original wage mandates imposed by the Alberta government through both mediation and the Disputes Inquiry Board.

When asked about the overall breakdown of votes in favour and against the agreement, Lou Arab, spokesperson with CUPE said the Union will not be releasing the specific vote tallies.

This is a developing story, and more information will be provided as it becomes available.