WATERLOO, ON – CUPE 2512 and the Ontario School Board Council of Unions (OSBCU) strongly condemn the Waterloo Catholic District School Board’s decision to move ahead with significant staffing cuts despite a crisis in understaffing and growing student needs across the Board.
The Board recently notified the Local that it plans to eliminate 15 morning supervisor positions following the end of the school year.
CUPE 2512 comprises of 1200 members and represents Administrative Assistants, Clerical, Child and Youth Care Workers, Educational Assistants, Registered Early Childhood Educators, Library Technicians, Morning & Lunch Supervisors, Hall Monitors, IT workers and other education workers at the Waterloo Catholic District School Board.
“Morning supervisors play a critical role in supporting students before the school day begins, ensuring they are safely supervised on the yard and providing families with the reassurance that their children are cared for while parents transition to work”, said Mechelle O’Hagan, President of CUPE 2512. “The decision to eliminate these positions is not justified and lacks clear rationale, especially when student enrolment is growing and the Board is receiving increased funding. These cuts will create unnecessary disruption for students, families, and school communities.”
The Local says these positions have been in place for more than 10 years and support students and families in 11 elementary schools across the Board. CUPE 2512 notes that the cuts come despite the Board receiving a four per cent increase in funding for the 2026-2027 school year and expecting elementary school enrolment to increase by more than 600 students next year.
The OSBCU says these cuts reflect a broader pattern driven by chronic underfunding of education in Ontario since 2018.
“What we’re seeing at Waterloo Catholic District School Board 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 2512 and the OSBCU are calling on the province to properly fund education and on the Waterloo Catholic District School Board to immediately reverse these job cuts.
“Students deserve safe, supported learning environments,” Tigani said. “That starts with investing in the workers who make that possible. The OSBCU stands behind CUPE 2512 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.”
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For more information, please contact:
Chitra Kunnath
CUPE Communications
[email protected]
416-317-0285
