CUPE 4154 and the Ontario School Board Council of Unions (OSBCU) criticize the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario’s decision to move forward with sweeping staffing cuts impacting education workers and students across the board.
“These cuts are a direct attack on the frontline workers who support students and keep our schools running every day,” said Trudy Scott, President of CUPE 4154. “The Board is framing this as an overall reduction of 1.5%, but that does not even begin to come close to the reality of the full impact. Once again, they’ve chosen to balance their budget on the backs of education workers.”
CUPE 4154 represents a wide range of education workers, including school office administrators, custodians, IT staff, library technicians, early childhood educators, educational assistants, student support workers and other critical support roles that ensure student success and well-being across the school system.
Despite the school board already being understaffed, the CDSBEO is proposing cuts to Student Support Workers, Information Communications Technology Staff, and the elimination of several positions, including Communications Disorder Assistant, itinerant custodians and itinerant school office administrators, who provide skilled replacements for those who are off work. They are also reducing several 12-month secretaries to 10-month positions, which will severely impact these workers’ salaries and pension contributions.
“What’s especially concerning is that these cuts are being made despite clear evidence that staffing levels are already strained,” said Scott. “Our members are already stretched thin. These layoffs will increase workloads that are already unmanageable and reduce essential supports for students.”
The OSBCU says these cuts reflect a broader pattern driven by chronic underfunding of education in Ontario since 2018.
“What we’re seeing at CDSBEO is part of a broader pattern, where education workers are being asked to pay the price for underfunding,” said Joe Tigani, President of the OSBCU. “These are the people who support students with special needs, maintain safe schools and ensure schools function every day. Cutting these workers hurts everyone.”
CUPE 4154 and the OSBCU are calling on the province to properly fund education and on the CDSBEO to immediately reverse these job cuts.
“Students deserve safe, supported learning environments,” Tigani added. “That starts with investing in the workers who make that possible. The OSBCU stands behind CUPE 4154 members as they fight back. We are united in defending good jobs, protecting vital services, and pushing back against a system that continues to undervalue education workers and the students they serve.”
