CUPE’s ‘bad-faith’ complaint officially made to Alberta Labour Board

By Medicine Hat News on February 25, 2025.

The union representing Medicine Hat’s public school support staff has filed complaints about unfair bargaining and circumventing the bargaining agent.

That action, promised by Canadian Union Of Public Employees last week, occurred Monday, according to the Alberta Labour Board. It is already considering an application from Medicine Hat Public School Division to put the latest contract offer to a direct vote of members.

Various locals of CUPE and school boards across the province are wrapped up in labour disruptions. About 7,000 CUPE members are on strike or threatening to walk out over contract negotiations.

On Monday, CUPE locals applied to the labour board to hold strike votes in the Buffalo Trail School Division, centred in Wainwright, and the Grande Yellowhead Public School Division, in northwest Alberta.

The Parkland School Division also applied to be able to lockout CUPE members.

On Feb. 12, the Medicine Hat Public School Division applied for the labour board to conduct a last-offer poll among 300 educational assistants, clerical staff and custodians.

That came after CUPE head office suspended local union officials as they apparently were about to sign a contract offer.

In its complaint filed Monday, CUPE No. 829 alleges the board is acting in bad faith by pushing for a vote while the union restructures its local leadership, is withholding contact information of its members contrary to labour regulations and is interfering with union operation by directly communicating with members.

There is no immediate timetable for when either application will be dealt with by the labour board.