Local education support workers ratify new four-year agreement

By BRENDAN MILLER on June 5, 2025.

bmiller@medicinehatnews.com

Roughly 350 support workers for schools in Medicine Hat have agreed to a new four-year collective agreement from 2024-28, with the support of approximately 90 per cent of voting members.

CUPE says Local 829 members voted on the new four-year collective agreement on May 13 and avoided strike action, following more than 4,000 educational assistants, clerical and custodial staff taking job action throughout the first quarter of the 2025.

Strike action was finally called off in March after local unions were able to ratify a new agreement that will provide most support workers a three per cent wage increase on average per year.

The union said local support workers bargained for a similar wage increase in a press release from March, and has been confirmed by the Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education.

Workers within the Catholic system will receive a 3 per cent wage increase retroactive from September 2024, as well as a 3 per cent increase in September 2026. In September 2025 and 2027 education support workers will receive a 3 per cent wage increase, or $1.25 per hour increase, whichever is greater.

According to CUPE local 829, the new deal comes after a forced vote on the employer’s “final offer” was rejected by members.

This drew controversy because five executive members of the local 829, including its president, were placed under administration in February before signing the original agreement to vote on a new deal with the Medicine Hat Public School Division.

“This important step allowed CUPE 829 to return to the bargaining table and secure a stronger deal, one that better reflects the needs and contributions of educational support workers,” reads a June 3 press release.

“CUPE 829 is pleased to have reached this agreement that provided long-term stability for our members, for the school division and for the kids,” said Kim Wentzell, national representative. “Our members are proud of the work we do every day to support students and schools. This agreement recognizes that work and ensures we can continue supporting the community effectively.”

Greg MacPherson, secretary treasure for the Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education, told trustees one of the more substantive changes to the agreement is a shift differential that will change the wage increase from $1.80 per hour on the date of the ratification to $1.97 per hour by September 2027.

Staff who also remove snow during the weekend to bank time will change from a minimum of 1.5 hours worked to two hours worked.

“I know this was a hot potato provincially and it didn’t seem to be like that here locally, so I was happy with that,” said Kathy Glasgo, board president during the division’s budget meeting on May 29.

The Medicine Hat Public School Division will also pay its support workers an increased wage following negotiations with CUPE and have approved the increase in its 2025-26 budget.

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