Educational support workers gathered this morning before dawn across the city and surrounding communities as a strike is officially underway.
Adorning signs with slogans and messages, and dressed for the weather, hundreds gathered at various schools from across the region.
Striking staff members include administrative staff, educational support workers, and cafeteria staff from the Edmonton Public School board along with staff from Sturgeon Public School Division.
More than 3,000 staff are now off the job according to the Canadian Union of Public Employees.
Picket lines have been set up outside three Edmonton high schools including Ross Sheppard High School in Edmonton’s northwest along with M.E Lazerte High School in northeast Edmonton, and Elder Dr Francis Whiskeyjack High School in South East Edmonton.
Employees haven’t had a contract since 2020 with the average support worker earning just over $34,000 annually.
Each school will be affected differently and parents are being asked to communicate with school principals for updates according to the school superintendents.
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