Approximately 300 support staff members in the Lord Selkirk School Division have voted in favour of a strike mandate, raising the possibility of disruptions for families in the Selkirk area. On April 16, 2026, CUPE Local 1522 announced that 92 percent of custodial workers and 93 percent of clerical staff, including educational assistants and library staff, supported the strike action.
The union, which has been without a collective agreement since 2023, is asking the school division to remove what it calls heavy concessions from the bargaining table. Their primary concerns include fair wages, respect, and working conditions. The union highlights that rural school divisions in Manitoba have historically paid support staff up to 30 percent less than their counterparts in Winnipeg, a gap they are now looking to address.
While the Manitoba government recently introduced teacher salary harmonization for the 2026-27 school year, this policy does not apply to support staff. The union argues this creates a significant inequity that should be resolved alongside the changes to teacher pay scales.
The Lord Selkirk School Division, which manages 15 schools with a current operating fund budget of $78,802,674, is currently participating in the bargaining process. Both parties have set three days of meetings for late April to work toward an essential services agreement. This agreement must be in place before any legal strike action can take place.
The provincial government recently announced a $79.8 million increase in school funding across Manitoba for the 2026-27 year. This investment includes $11.4 million specifically aimed at helping school divisions manage the costs associated with the new standardized pay scales for teachers.
