The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) managed to halt the mass layoffs of educational staff by the Holy Spirit Catholic School Division. On October 15, CUPE was demanding the division to rescind the layoff notices for 200 support staff, and the notice was revoked the following day, on October 16. “This is about stability for everyone,” said Joanne Lavkulich, President of CUPE Local 1825. “We can’t risk our support staff being forced to find other work. Students need familiar faces to be there and welcome them back when the strike is over.” Last week, Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides issued a statement informing school boards that there will be no cuts to funding for support staff during the current Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) strike. He said, “I want to be absolutely

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