Local and provincial unions are condemning proposed layoffs at the Lambton Kent District School Board (LKDSB).
Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) 1238 and the Ontario School Board Council of Unions (OSBCU) issued a news release on Tuesday, saying 22 custodial jobs were at risk.
CUPE 1238 President Carrie Hopper called the cuts devastating for their members and for the schools they work in every day.
"Custodians are essential frontline workers who keep schools clean, safe, and functioning for students and staff," Hopper said. "Eliminating these positions will increase workloads, create more stress and injuries for workers, and ultimately impact the learning environment for students."
The unions claim the board has indicated its plans to create 12 new custodial positions at a higher rate of pay, but current workers will be required to apply for those positions.
"Our members are being told their jobs are disappearing, only to be asked to compete for fewer positions," Hopper said. "That creates uncertainty and anxiety for workers who have dedicated years of service to this board and their school communities."
CUPE 1238 said it represents a broad spectrum of education workers across the LKDSB.
"Across all classifications, members are already facing rising stress and heavier workloads. These cuts will place additional pressure on the custodial staff who remain and will impact the cleanliness, maintenance, and overall condition of schools across the district," a news release read.
OSBCU President Joe Tigani said these cuts reflect a broader pattern driven by chronic underfunding of education in Ontario since 2018.
"Education workers are being asked to pay the price for underfunding," said Tigani. "These are the people who support students with special needs, maintain safe schools, and ensure schools function every day. Cutting these workers hurts everyone."
The unions are calling on the province to properly fund education and on the LKDSB to immediately reverse the proposed 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 1238 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."
In an e-mail to Sarnia News Today, LKDSB Public Relations Officer Caress Lee said the board "consistently looks a systems board wide to streamline operations across our 64 sites."
"This has resulted in a reduction of 10 custodial positions board-wide, and we are committed to managing as much of this change as possible through natural attrition," Lee said. "We value the important work our custodial staff do every day to support safe, healthy learning environments. These decisions are never taken lightly. Our focus is on long-term sustainability, operational efficiency, and ensuring that resources are aligned to support students and classrooms."
