-

Protect Our Schools Rally Takes Over Queens Park: CUPE Education Workers Rally at Queen’s Park on Saturday to Demand Increased Funding, Staffing, and Safety in Ontario Schools

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On Saturday, CUPE 1328, representing over 2,000 education workers at the Toronto Catholic District School Board, will lead a rally at Queen’s Park to demand that the Ford government take immediate action to address the growing crisis of violence in Ontario schools.

Hundreds of CUPE education workers from across the province will gather in solidarity to call out the chronic understaffing and underfunding that has left classrooms unsafe for students and staff alike.

Since 2018, the Ford government has cut billions from public education, resulting in severe staffing shortages, lack of training, and inadequate supports for students and education workers. Classrooms are regularly evacuated due to violent incidents, and education workers are increasingly being injured on the job.

Speakers at the Rally will include CUPE Ontario President Fred Hahn, Ontario School Board Council of Unions President Joe Tigani, President of CUPE 1328 Sharron Flynn, ONDP MPPs Jessica Bell and Chris Glover and other education union presidents from across Ontario.

Who:

Fred Hahn, President of CUPE Ontario; Joe Tigani, President of CUPE’s Ontario School Board Council of Unions (OSBCU); Sharron Flynn, President of CUPE 1328; Lisa Townsend, Vice President of CUPE 1328; Rebecca Avey, President of CUPE 7575, Tracey Copper, President of CUPE 4186; MPP Jessica Bell; MPP Chris Glover;

 

 

What:

Protect Our Schools Rally: Education workers to rally at Queens Park to demand an immediate investment in public education to address the rampant violence in Ontario schools

 

 

Where:

111 Wellesley St. West, Toronto

 

 

When:

Saturday, October 4, 2025, 12:00 p.m.

kl/cope491

Contacts

Shannon Carranco
CUPE Communications
scarranco@cupe.ca
514-703-8358

CUPE


Release Versions

Contacts

Shannon Carranco
CUPE Communications
scarranco@cupe.ca
514-703-8358

More News From CUPE

“Cold-blooded decision on hospital funding,” says CUPE in response to Ford government’s 2026 budget

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The real dollar hospital funding cut announced in the 2026 provincial budget will intensify the crisis in Ontario’s hospitals, which are already funded at the lowest rate in the country, says the Canadian Union of Public Employees. “The government increased hospital funding by four per cent - a real cut of two per cent when measured against the six per cent increase in costs related to an ageing and growing population. This funding shortfall compounds a two per cent cu...

CUPE social services workers reject forced offers in Windsor and Brant, sending strong message to employers and provincial government

WINDSOR/BRANT, ON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Workers at Community Living agencies in Windsor and Brant have overwhelmingly rejected employer-imposed “final offer” votes, sending a clear message to employers across Ontario’s social services sector that low-wage proposals will not be accepted. Members of CUPE Local 2345 at Windsor Community Living and CUPE Local 181 at Community Living Brant both recently voted down forced offers. The results reflect growing frustration among frontline workers who continu...

Village of Montrose workers ratify new collective agreement

MONTROSE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CUPE 2087 members who work in the Village of Montrose have voted in favour of a new collective agreement, concluding this round of negotiations. “This agreement shows what can happen when both sides focus on finding solutions,” says Hailey Knott, CUPE 2087 unit chair for the Village of Montrose. “Through respectful and collaborative dialogue, we were able to reach an agreement that supports workers and strengthens the services our community depends on.” The new three-...
Back to Newsroom