Hamilton’s Catholic school board eliminating 25 positions, unions say

Two local unions say the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board is eliminating 25 positions this upcoming school year.

CUPE 3396 and the Ontario School Board Council of Unions (OSBCU) say 19 of the positions are related to the loss of student support funding, including seven child and youth workers, seven educational assistants, and five clerical positions.

They say an additional six positions, including one speech and language pathologist and five designated early childhood educators, are affected as part of changes to the board’s protected complement resulting from enrollment changes.

“Our members have been devastated by these cuts,” Marcia Matthews, president of CUPE 3396, writes in a statement.

“Many affected members have been forced into lower classifications, while others have gone from 12-month to 10-month positions, resulting in significant pay cuts. These are dedicated education workers who have supported students for years, and they deserve better.”

CUPE 3396 represents approximately 1,200 full-time, part-time and supply education workers at the HWCDSB.

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According to the unions, the board attributed the job cuts to the loss of the provincial government’s Support for Students Fund.

However, the unions say ministry funding documents indicate that the Support for Students Fund will continue for the 2026-27 school year, and direct boards to use the funding for its intended purpose.

“At the same time, the HWCDSB is projected to experience modest enrollment growth, while overall provincial funding for the board is expected to increase by approximately 1.2 per cent, raising further questions about the board’s rationale for these cuts,” the statement reads.

“Our members and the families they support deserve clear answers. If this funding continues, the board needs to explain why these positions are being eliminated,” Matthews continues in the statement.

CUPE 3396 and the OSBCU are calling on the province to properly fund education and on the HWCDSB to immediately reverse these job cuts.

CHCH News has reached out to the HWCDSB for comment but has not received a response at this time.

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