COPE 527’s members are taking a stance against the unacceptable amount of violence they face in schools.
COPE Local 527, represents Education Support Staff with Hamilton Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB); these Education Support Staff within HWDSB are facing unacceptable amounts of violence at work. In this school year (2022- 2023) there have been over 3,800 reports submitted, this number does not reflect the amount of incidents that go unreported.
Education Support Staff work with some of the most vulnerable students throughout HWDSB. These Education Support Staff are some of the most compassionate, caring and dedicated staff yet they are the least supported by the board and ministry of education.
Violence in schools affects everyone.
These issues are caused by:
- Not enough direct support for students
- Limited access to mental health supports
- Lack of provincial funding
- Critical staffing shortages
All students are affected by violence witnessed within our schools.