Union leaders condemn Sudbury Catholic District School Board job cuts

They say they are not needed because of more money from the provincial government and increased enrolment

Article content Education unions are calling on the Sudbury Catholic District School Board to ‘reconsider’ job cuts they say are not needed because of projected increases in enrolment and provincial funding for the 2026–27 school year. “These cuts are creating significant stress and uncertainty for our members,” Corry Allair, president of CUPE 5569, said in a release. “When positions are eliminated, the impact doesn’t disappear with a budget line.

The work still needs to be done, and that responsibility is pushed onto fewer staff. Recommended Videos “Over time, that means increased workloads, reduced services, and fewer opportunities for students to receive the support they deserve.” CUPE 5569 represents more than 350 education workers at the Sudbury Catholic District School Board, including early childhood educators, educational assistants, office staff, library technicians, social workers, and other frontline support staff.

CUPE 5569 said the school board has told the union it intends to cut two speech pathologists and two library technician positions for the next school year. Additionally, the school board is reducing two designated early childhood educators from permanent full-time positions to casual positions. The reductions come despite provincial funding projections showing growth for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board.

Total core education funding for the board is projected to increase by almost 4 per cent, or about $4.46 million, and the Learning Resources Fund is projected to increase by close to 10 per cent at $1.86 million, while classroom staffing funding is expected to increase by approximately $938,580. At the same time, provincial enrolment projections indicate the board will welcome about 184 additional students, representing enrolment growth of 2.7 per cent, the union said. “The question seems less about whether funding exists and more about how available funding is being prioritized locally,” said Allair.

“When funding is increasing and more students are entering our schools, it is difficult to understand why education workers are being cut. “Our members aren’t just names on a spreadsheet; they are the frontline safety net for our kids. Cutting speech pathologists and library technicians directly hurts early literacy and early childhood development.

When you eliminate these roles, you are telling parents that their kids will wait longer for help or go without it entirely. “Our community deserves to know why a board with millions in new funding is choosing to give our students less support, not more.” The Ontario School Board Council of Unions has also weighed in on the cuts, saying it reflects a broader crisis facing Ontario’s publicly funded education system, where boards continue to make difficult staffing decisions despite growing student needs.

“What we are seeing at the Sudbury Catholic District School Board is part of a larger pattern playing out across Ontario,” said Joe Tigani, president of the Ontario School Board Council of Unions. “Education workers are essential to student success. They support students with special needs, maintain safe learning environments, and ensure schools operate effectively every day.

When these positions are cut, students and families feel the impact.” CUPE 5569 and the OSBCU called on the Sudbury Catholic District School Board to reconsider cuts and prioritize what they say are frontline services that directly support students. “Students deserve the supports they need to succeed,” said Tigani.

“That requires investing in the education workers who provide those supports every day. The OSBCU stands with CUPE 5569 members as they continue to advocate for quality public education, good jobs, and the services students depend on.” Note: The Star has reached out to the board for comment.

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