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By Dylana Kneeshaw

EMPLOYMENT IMPACTS

“It’s gutting”: CUPE 3500, KTTA brace for proposed staffing cuts in Kamloops-Thompson School District

Apr 11, 2025 | 4:34 PM

KAMLOOPS — News of staffing cuts for the next school year’s drafted budget plan are being met with serious concern from the organizations representing workers who could lose their jobs.

This week, School District 73 presented the preliminary budget, which outlined $5.8 million in cost increases that had to be addressed. In a move to balance the budget, the district’s plan is to reduce staffing by nearly 77 positions, and cut back on supplies and services.

The 2025/2026 budget won’t be finalized until the board revises or approves the plan on April 28. Among CUPE 3500 and the Kamloops Thompson Teachers Association members, there’s acceptance of the reality of inflated operating costs and frustration on what they described as a need for more provincial funding.

Dawn Armstrong is the president of CUPE 3500, the union representing more than 900 members working in education in this region, and says the budget plan to potentially cut 49 support staff positions is gutting.

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“Every CUPE job that exists right now in this district plays a critical role in services to students. Five jobs would be terrible to lose, but 49 is devastating,” she says.

With stress levels running high amongst membership, CUPE is urging the board to reconsider.

“Right now, we have to wait until April 28 to see what the board decides and we’ll be looking into what it is we can do to address this,” says Armstrong. “Aside from that, it’s making a plea to the government to change their funding model and to increase funding to public education. It’s critical.”

For the Kamloops Thompson Teachers Association, President Laurel Macpherson says hearing of 27.5 FTE positions on the reduction list is concerning. And the KTTA wants to see more provincial dollars put into public education to avoid those budgeting decisions.

“For an example, when the province gives sick days, paid sick days to TTOCs and doesn’t cover that financially, or the last increase to salaries was not covered provincially, you have to look inward to your own money in order to cover those extra costs,” explains Macpherson.

Details aren’t available as to who exactly will be impacted in the cuts. In the meantime, CUPE reiterates that school districts need a funding increase to prevent any kind of staff or service reductions.

“As we all know, health care and education, those are primary services to the public and when those sectors face cuts, all British Columbians lose out,” adds Armstrong.

CUPE’s current contract is set to expire at the end of June and bargaining for the next K-12 provincial agreement is scheduled to begin April 14.

The BC Teacher’s Federation contract also expires in June with bargaining already underway.