The jobs of up to 170 caretakers employed by the Toronto District Catholic School Board were made a little safer on Wednesday, June 24 when the Board voted to use a pension surplus to encourage early retirements.
The caretaking jobs had been cut in the last draft of the Boards budget fro the upcoming year. However, the Board has now included in the new budget $3 million provided by Ontarios municipal employee pension surplus and aimed it at retirement and incentive-to-leave packages.
“Obviously its more than any of us were looking for,” said Mike Hennessey, who is the CUPE Local 1280 president. “It could possibly avoid layoffs altogether.”
However, Hennessey also said the new development doesnt change the fact there will be about 20% fewer caretakers in the schools.
The National Representative working with the local is Ann Didier-Floyd.