TORONTO – Lunchroom supervisors and Kindergarten educational assistants will meet later today to launch their fightback against an expected attack on their jobs.
The 2,200 workers, members of CUPE Local 4400, were targeted by provincially-appointed auditor Al Rosen in his report on the Toronto District School Board. Now they’re waiting to hear if supervisor Paul Christie, also appointed by the Eves government, will include them in his list of cuts.
“These are jobs done mainly by women,” said CUPE Local 4400 president John Weatherup. “Many of them also have children in Toronto schools. How are they going to feel when the school calls and asks them to volunteer in the classroom and lunchroom after they’ve been fired?”
“That’s the way a lot of school boards with so-called balanced budgets are managing,” he said. But, removing lunchroom supervisors and education assistants takes away people who also help provide for the safety and well-being of children.
“Paul Christie said he wouldn’t be making cuts to the classroom,” Weatherup said. “I don’t know what else you call it when you take educational assistants out of Kindergarten classes.”
Today’s emergency meeting will focus on lobbying Premier Ernie Eves and local MPPs as well as raising awareness among parents.
The meeting starts at 4:30 p.m. in the Bloor Collegiate Auditorium, southwest corner of Bloor and Dufferin Streets.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees represents 180,000 workers in Ontario, most of whom work for municipalities, hospitals, school boards, universities and social service agencies.
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For further information, please contact:
John Weatherup, President
Katie McGovern, Recording Secretary
CUPE Local 4400
416-597-3957
The 2,200 workers, members of CUPE Local 4400, were targeted by provincially-appointed auditor Al Rosen in his report on the Toronto District School Board. Now they’re waiting to hear if supervisor Paul Christie, also appointed by the Eves government, will include them in his list of cuts.
“These are jobs done mainly by women,” said CUPE Local 4400 president John Weatherup. “Many of them also have children in Toronto schools. How are they going to feel when the school calls and asks them to volunteer in the classroom and lunchroom after they’ve been fired?”
“That’s the way a lot of school boards with so-called balanced budgets are managing,” he said. But, removing lunchroom supervisors and education assistants takes away people who also help provide for the safety and well-being of children.
“Paul Christie said he wouldn’t be making cuts to the classroom,” Weatherup said. “I don’t know what else you call it when you take educational assistants out of Kindergarten classes.”
Today’s emergency meeting will focus on lobbying Premier Ernie Eves and local MPPs as well as raising awareness among parents.
The meeting starts at 4:30 p.m. in the Bloor Collegiate Auditorium, southwest corner of Bloor and Dufferin Streets.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees represents 180,000 workers in Ontario, most of whom work for municipalities, hospitals, school boards, universities and social service agencies.
-30-
For further information, please contact:
John Weatherup, President
Katie McGovern, Recording Secretary
CUPE Local 4400
416-597-3957