RENFREW COUNTY, ON – CUPE Locals 1247 and 1321 and the Ontario School Board Council of Unions (OSBCU) strongly condemn the Renfrew County 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 locals that it plans to eliminate about 11 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions, including custodial and secretarial positions.
CUPE 1247 represents custodians and trade workers, while CUPE 1321 represents office, clerical and IT staff at the Renfrew County District School Board.
“These cuts will seriously undermine the learning and working conditions in our schools,” said Ashley Farrell, President of CUPE 1247. “Custodians and trades workers are already stretched beyond their limits trying to keep schools safe, clean and operational everyday. Cutting these positions while schools are already understaffed will only make conditions worse for workers and students alike.”
“Office, clerical and IT staff are essential to the day-to-day functioning of our schools, and these cuts will be deeply felt across the system,” said Kathy Prescott, President of CUPE 1321. “Members are already dealing with overwhelming workloads and staffing shortages. Instead of addressing those concerns, the board is moving ahead with layoffs that will directly affect the support students and school communities rely on every day.”
The OSBCU says these cuts reflect a broader pattern driven by chronic underfunding of education in Ontario since 2018.
“What we’re seeing at Renfrew County 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 Locals 1247 and 1321 and the OSBCU are calling on the province to properly fund education and on the Renfrew County 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 Locals 1247 and 1321 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
