Edmonton Minute: Possible Strike, Firefighter Contract, and a Happy New Year

Edmonton Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Edmonton politics

This Week In Edmonton:

• There are no Council or Committee meetings this week. The Agenda Review Committee will resume next week, followed by regularly scheduled meetings the week of January 13th.
  
  
• Tuesday is New Year’s Eve! Celebrations feature free activities across the city, including fireworks, live music, and family-friendly events. Churchill Square will host two fireworks displays - an early show at 8:00 pm for families and a traditional midnight display. There will also be skating, cultural performances, and food trucks. The ICE District Plaza will have a hockey watch party, live music by Jade Eagleson, and a midnight fireworks finale. There will be free transit after 6:00 pm and extended service hours to make the festivities accessible for everyone.
  
  
• As we ring in the New Year, we’re reflecting on the work we’ve accomplished and the challenges ahead. To kick off 2025 strong, we’ve set a goal to raise $20,000 by midnight on December 31st. This crucial fundraiser will ensure we can continue our mission in the coming year. If you’ve valued our efforts and want to see us achieve even more, please consider making a donation today. Every contribution, big or small, makes a difference, and we’re incredibly thankful for your support. Click here to donate and help us start the year on the right foot. Thank you and Happy New Year!

Last Week In Edmonton:

• Our longest contributor, Will Vishloff, who helped found Common Sense Edmonton way back in 2019 and has been writing our weekly emails ever since, has moved on to other opportunities. We wish him luck in his future endeavours and thank him for his great contributions to the organization. In his own words: "Thank you to every single one of our readers who read our newsletter, provided valuable public input to City Council through Public Hearings and online feedback, donated financially, or attended our events. Your encouragement and help has meant the world to me, and I have appreciated speaking with every single one of you who took time out of your schedule to visit with us or send us a note. Highlights of my time at Common Sense Edmonton include drawing attention to the poor state of the City's finances, starting the bike lane petition, and all of our in-person events over the years. I am proud of what we have accomplished and wish all of our supporters nothing but the merriest of Christmases and the happiest of New Years. See you around town! Cheers!”
  
  
• Edmonton firefighters have secured a retroactive five-year contract with the City, resolving a labour dispute that left them without a contract since 2018. The agreement, covering 2018 to 2023, includes a total wage increase of 10.3%, retroactively applied across several years. Firefighters highlighted significant changes to their workload due to population growth, increased call volumes, and evolving occupational risks. Call volumes rose sharply from 55,000 annual calls in 2018 to approximately 95,000 in 2023.
  
  
• Educational assistants and support staff at Edmonton Public Schools, represented by CUPE Local 3550, have rejected a Dispute Inquiry Board’s recommendations, with 83.6% voting against the proposed offer. The Board's recommendation included a 2.75% wage increase over four years, with an additional 3% for extending the contract through 2025, which the union declined, citing concerns about rising living costs. While no strike dates have been set, the union has the option to provide 72 hours' notice for strike action. Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides expressed hope for further negotiations to avoid disruption for families and students. Meanwhile, custodial staff represented by CUPE Local 474 reached an eight-year agreement addressing concerns about benefits, hours, and staffing shortages.

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