Worker voices must be included in Edmonton's budget decisions

Posted on 4/21/2026

Two years ago, CSU 52 members were poised to strike for the first time in nearly 50 years. Our actions today can help us avoid the picket line in 2027.

City Council has begun public engagement on the 2027-2030 budget, and the decisions they make this fall will have a direct impact on our wages, working conditions and job security for at least the next four years.

In 2024, we came close to striking in part because we were negotiating cost-of-living wage increases that the City said they couldn't afford. But increases like that shouldn’t come as a surprise—they’re a predictable part of bargaining, especially with inflation. This time, we need to make it clear that planning for fair wage increases is part of responsible budgeting—not something that gets addressed after the fact.

We’re also hearing more about contracting out City work to private companies as a way to cut costs. "Private partnerships” is a euphemism for privatization, and we know from experience how privatization means fewer public sector jobs and degrading service quality. We need to be clear that this isn’t the right approach.

Worker voices must be part of the conversation

As a union, CSU 52’s priorities remain the same as they were during the election:

  • Protecting against privatization and contracting-out.
  • Building reliable, high-quality public services for Edmontonians.
  • Supporting fair wages, safe workplaces, and respectful treatment of workers.
  • Ensuring labour has a unified voice through our alignment with the Coalition of Edmonton Civic Unions (CECU) and the Edmonton & District Labour Council (EDLC).

These are CSU 52’s key priorities—but the most effective input comes from you. Your firsthand experience in your role is what makes the biggest impact. Sharing what you see day-to-day will help City Council understand both the pressures on workers and the value of the services we provide.

If you need some ideas to help shape your feedback, here are some suggestions:

  • What would additional staffing or resources allow your team to do?
  • Share a success story that demonstrated the impact of your work.
  • What challenges limit your ability to deliver services (e.g., workload, resources, policies)?
  • Is there a time you’ve had to turn down or scale back services? What was the impact?
  • In your line of work, are there practical ways you think the City could improve service delivery or operate more efficiently?
  • What would you like to see in the next collective agreement?

The most effective way to make sure your perspective is heard is by attending an in-person session before May 1. You don’t need to live in a specific ward to attend that ward’s session—members who work for the City but live outside Edmonton are still welcome to participate and share their perspective as workers.

If you've never attended something like this before and want to know more about what to expect, please email our CSU 52 organizer Eric Lewis at [email protected]

In-Person Sessions

View all sessions →

While these sessions only run until May 1, the budget isn’t finalized until November. Together, we will keep advocating for a budget that supports workers and the services Edmontonians rely on.

Other ways to share your thoughts

Balance the budget tool →

What matters to you survey →

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