A reminder that it was only 3 days before 4,000 education workers in Edmonton Public, Fort McMurray Public, and Fort McMurray Catholic school districts reached a tentative agreement "higher than the original wage mandates imposed by the Alberta government", that Medicine Hat workers rejected a deal for a measly 3% annual wage increase which doesn't keep up with inflation, which their employer called a "final offer" (which is a bullshit line unless you intend on violating legislated labour laws).
Now 3 days later, their bargaining position has completely changed. There is no way that the Medicine Hat school district can continue to hold out when 4,000 fellow Alberta education workers have won a fair contract and in the words of Alberta CUPE president Rory Gil, "finally won the respect they deserve".
This is such an important lesson in solidarity and the power of collective action. This win will snowball and start a domino effect, ending strikes across Alberta with fair contracts for workers. We only have power when we stay strong and stand together.
Understand that those 5 months (Fort Mac) and 2 months (Edmonton) that 4,000 education workers spent in abysmal deep freeze temperatures were a fight for all of our rights as workers to fair pay and respect, as the valuable force which keeps our society running. This was not just a win for those 4,000 deserving workers. It was a win for all of us.
This is how all the labour laws and legislation which makes our working lives bearable have been earned. Health benefits, weekends, maternity leave, wage increases, reasonable working hours, overtime pay, paid holidays, vacation time, workplace standards, the right to refuse unsafe work, protection against discrimination. We owe it all to our steadfast union workers.
Thank a union worker today. In Solidarity.
https://alberta.cupe.ca/2025/03/12/medicine-hat-school-support-workers-reject-government-offer/
Join us TOMORROW, 3/5 at WB Games Inc., Gate 5. Come out from 11 AM to 2 PM, our new game time. 
We'll see you there! 
