Toronto Union Demands Action Amid Surge in Classroom Violence

CUPE Local 1328, representing over 2,000 education workers within the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB), has raised urgent concerns over a significant increase in violent incidents within Ontario classrooms. A recent investigation by Global News highlighted a 77 percent rise in such incidents since the Ford government took office, prompting the union to call for the hiring of hundreds more education workers.

Escalating Violence in Schools

Sharron Flynn, president of CUPE 1328, emphasized the alarming frequency of physical violence faced by education workers at the TCDSB. Reports of biting, scratching, hair-pulling, and serious injuries have become commonplace, with Flynn noting that members often receive distressing images of injuries sustained on the job. “If they only get hit two or three times in a day, it’s considered a good day,” she stated. “Violent incidents are so frequent that many workers have stopped reporting them.”

Flynn criticized the current environment, stating, “No one should go to work and get hurt. It’s not accepted in any other profession — why is it the norm in education?” The union has initiated a petition demanding immediate action from the TCDSB, with the majority of its members endorsing the need for a comprehensive plan to address the escalating violence in schools.

Need for Proactive Solutions

CUPE 1328 argues that the TCDSB must adopt a proactive approach to ensure student and staff safety. Flynn highlighted that funding cuts for preventative services have left education workers unable to intervene before situations escalate. “Students are left without supports, and our members are left to put out fire after fire,” she added.

A province-wide survey released earlier this year by the Ontario School Board Council of Unions (OSBCU) revealed troubling statistics regarding the realities faced by education workers. Among CUPE 1328 members surveyed, 73 percent reported experiencing violent or disruptive incidents, with Educational Assistants and Child and Youth Workers facing even more severe conditions; 94 percent reported such incidents, and 46 percent indicated they occur daily.

Flynn stressed that these figures represent a broader issue affecting both student learning and staff safety. “This government’s refusal to fund adequate supports is putting students and workers in harm’s way,” she asserted. “These incidents are the direct result of chronic underfunding and understaffing. Education workers are at a breaking point, and students are suffering.”

To address these challenges, CUPE 1328 is demanding urgent investment in hiring additional front-line education workers. The union insists that such measures are crucial to ensure every student receives the necessary support and that workers can perform their duties without fear of violence.

As the situation continues to develop, the union remains committed to advocating for the safety and well-being of both staff and students within the TCDSB. The call for immediate action reflects a growing concern among education workers who feel increasingly endangered in their workplaces.