CUPE Calls on Holy Spirit School Division to Immediately Rescind Layoff Notice for Education Support Staff

LETHBRIDGE, Alberta--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) is demanding that the Holy Spirit Catholic School Division immediately rescind layoff notices issued to over two hundred education support staff.

Last week, Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides issued a statement informing school boards that there will be no cuts to funding for support staff during the current Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) strike. He said, “I want to be absolutely clear: I expect school boards to use the funding they’ve been given to keep EAs on the job.” Despite this, the Holy Spirit has chosen to ignore the Minister’s direction and is jeopardizing the future of children and families.

“This is about stability for everyone,” said Joanne Lavkulich, President of CUPE Local 1825. “We can’t risk our support staff being forced to find other work. Students need familiar faces to be there and welcome them back when the strike is over.”

This lay-off notice follows a pattern at Holy Spirit where support staff have seen cuts in hours, work days, and positions over the last several years. These cuts have already pushed dedicated staff out of the profession.

Currently, Holy Spirit is the only school division in Alberta to issue layoff notices to support staff. Other divisions, including Pembina Hills and Northern Lights, have done the right thing by rescinding or reversing plans for layoff notices after the Minister’s commitment to maintain funding.

“CUPE members stand shoulder to shoulder with teachers in calling for better funded, fairer schools,” said Raj Uppal, President of CUPE Alberta. “Laying off support staff in the middle of a strike is reckless and unnecessary. It will create chaos for students and families and further destabilize schools that are already under pressure. Holy Spirit needs to reverse course immediately.”