Parents, janitorial staff and union members are concerned about Prairie South School Division’s decision to cut the hours of some custodians, especially, they say, during a pandemic when enhanced cleaning is needed.
About 50 protestors gathered at the board office on Ninth Avenue Northwest on Aug. 17 to demand that the school division reverse its decision to cut hours from custodians’ workloads.
The reduction equals 2.53 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff positions and is equal to 20.3 fewer daily hours of custodial services, according to CUPE Saskatchewan. There are 30 janitorial and maintenance staff in Moose Jaw. That number will remain the same, but the number of part-time workers will increase to 11 from four.
The decision affects janitorial staff at A.E. Peacock, Riverview Collegiate, Central Collegiate, Prince Arthur Elementary School, Westmount Elementary School and William Grayson School. The board office on Ninth Avenue Northwest and the maintenance building have also been affected.
The cuts went into effect on Aug. 15.
A concerned mom
Erin Hidlebaugh has two sons with respiratory issues who will return to school this fall. She was concerned that PSSD had reduced janitors’ hours by 20.3 hours per day, which, based on 181 instructional days this school year, would be 3,674 fewer hours dedicated to keeping schools clean.
“This just seems really, really unwise when we have a global pandemic going on,” she said.
PSSD covers the south-central and central-west parts of the province, areas that have 45 active coronavirus cases, she pointed out. She believed that was far too many when attempting to keep students safe.
“The case remains that little kids are gross and big kids are careless and thoughtless,” Hilelbaugh chuckled. “(So) the janitors need to be there to help our kids grow up.”
The affected custodian
Melody Stark is a custodian at Prince Arthur School and had two hours per day cut from her schedule. That represents a reduction in income of 25 per cent.
“This is a really tough time for myself and the other people who have had their hours reduced. We’re scared because when we go to work every day, we want to do the best job possible … ,” she said. “We do it for the kids.”
Custodians do so much more than people could imagine, Stark continued. They cut grass, conduct weekly fire alarm checks, remove snow, change air filters, replace lightbulbs, and clean up when children become sick. They even chase after bats that get into schools.
“The best thing we can do is get all hands on deck because our schools don’t work if we don’t,” she said, adding that means returning all full-time, permanent staff to full-time and ensuring all casuals are working.
Union chairwoman fired up
Jackie Christianson, chair of CUPE’s Education Workers’ Steering Committee, pointed out education director Tony Baldwin cut $125,000 from the division’s janitorial budget while allegedly giving himself a raise that is more than the $172,848 the premier makes. Moreover, it was the elected trustees who approved the cut, including trustee Shawn Davidson, president of the Saskatchewan School Boards Association (SSBA).
Prairie South submitted its back-to-school plan for approval in June to the minister of education, who in July approved the plan — including the reductions — and then in August said all school divisions would have enhanced cleaning, Christianson continued.
“I just think that Tony, Shawn and the minister of education all approved this and they’re basically saying seven communities are not worth it — they’re worth less,” she said, “while giving themselves raises (and) adding more management.”
Christianson added that the extra $40 million the province is providing to the 27 school divisions means each one will receive about $1 million. To her, that was unacceptable.
The national perspective
PSSD does have the right to reorganize its operations, but it didn’t make sense to cut cleaning staff when other divisions are enhancing that aspect during a pandemic, said Dave Stevenson, the national staff representative for CUPE. The union has questioned the division about this move but has not received a satisfactory answer.
“I don’t anticipate we will (receive an answer). The board chair (Robert Bachmann) has indicated … that it’s far less than the numbers we’ve shared,” Stevenson added. “So I would tell him to pick up the phone, call us and have a meeting with us … . Why have you cut (20.3) hours of cleaning staff per day? I think it’s a fair question."
