Waterloo Regional Councillors are making a familiar mistake: undermining vital public services by allowing frontline staffing levels to decline.
In response, public health workers, library and museum workers, Ontario Works case managers and many other Region of Waterloo workers represented by CUPE 1883 voted overwhelmingly to authorize job action. Of the 761 members who participated in the strike vote – roughly 90 per cent of CUPE 1883 members – 690 voted in favour.
“Region Councillors have a track record of shortchanging frontline workers and services by imposing layoffs and letting positions go unfilled,” said Noelle Fletcher, president of CUPE 1883. “Waterloo Region is growing while frontline staffing is shrinking. But responsible growth requires sustainable staffing levels that put residents first and you cannot cut your way there.”
Outstanding items include members’ proposals to create a stable environment for sustainable delivery of public services, including greater employment security and stronger layoff language. The members’ proposals would obligate the Region to maintain a level of job security that would protect against harmful service reduction. The Region has rejected these proposals.
“For years, frontline staffing levels have gone in the wrong direction. Since 2021, residents have felt the impact of a 10 per cent reduction in frontline staffing. Meanwhile, management positions have ballooned by 24 per cent in just the last three years,” said Fletcher. “The Region’s position could mean the loss of even more dedicated, skilled workers from their jobs and additional service decline for residents.”
Residents continue to struggle with the consequences of Regional Council’s 2020 decision to close five regionally operated child care centres, cutting more than 200 child care spaces and 60 frontline positions. In this round of bargaining, CUPE 1883 members are looking to prevent similar harmful cuts in the future.
“We are standing up for the important services we deliver and we’re asking Councillors to stand with us and with residents,” said Fletcher. “We keep water clean, we make sure restaurants are safe, we help our neighbours find jobs and housing, and more. We contribute to making Waterloo Region a good place to live and residents deserve to have service levels maintained, if not increased, as our communities grow.”
