Recently approved school bus fees, the possibility of further transportation changes, school closures and calendar adjustments are worrying Donna Mason, president of CUPE Local 1260.

Since May, 80 union members have received layoff notices, or word that their hours will be cut.

“We are concerned,” Mason said.

With the district facing a $4.8 million deficit, part of it from errors in calculations, Mason is concerned that more bad news will follow.

On June 16, the board of education approved a monthly $20 fee for every student who rides a bus to school. Trustees also asked for a staff report examining further changes in the transportation, school closures and calendar changes that would address the budget.

In every case, these would impact her members, Mason said.

Although the board has indicated that it would give relief to families who cannot afford the new bus fee, Mason is concerned that some parents will choose to drive their children to and from school. Fewer students riding buses could mean fewer buses and therefore less work for drivers, she said.

“If ridership changes dramatically, and if they are adjusting some routes, some of our people (bus drivers) may be negatively affected,” she said.

Several years ago, the board approved calendar changes involving longer school days, to shorten the overall school year. It resulted in CUPE employees losing pay because there were fewer work days. A similar move is now being considered again.

And, Mason said, if there are further school closures, it will mean the loss of more CUPE positions.

CUPE 1260 represents bus drivers, clerical staff, aboriginal and youth workers, as well as in-class support such as special education assistants.

“It’s our people who suffer in these changes,” Mason said.

“It always amazes me that when the district is short of money it seems to be our members who get hit. We are the lowest in pay, and you don’t save a lot by cutting support staff.”

However, jobs are being posted “so we are hopeful that some of our workers will return in some manner.”

Mason said she is concerned about the massive deficit in the budget which is being probed by auditors Deloitte.

“A lot of people want to make sure the report is transparent,” she said.

Les Morrison, president of CUPE Local 1851, which represents grounds workers, maintenance and custodial staff, had similar concerns.

“It’s very frustrating that they have got themselves into this situation,” he said.

The district has already imposed a hiring freeze on his department, and when vacancies arise, they will not be filled.

“It’s very hard. I’m not very pleased about it.”

Morrison said that his department did not recover from cuts that were imposed in 1995, especially in grounds maintenance and school and office cleaning.

He noted, however, that his members who are plumbers, painters, electricians and working with HVAC systems “are holding their own” in that they continue to be busy.