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Windsor – The “strategic workforce restructuring” announced by the ESSEX Children’s Aid Association on Saturday will result in layoffs of 26 workers – about 10% of non-management staff – Canadian Public Employees Alliance said.
CAPE released Friday that CAS’s Leamington office will be closed by the end of this month.
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“This is a betrayal of the community we serve and the mission of CAS,” said Craig Hesman, president of CUPE 2286. Provincial President Craig Hesman continued to cause this terrifying crisis. The losses to these dedicated workers are already bad and become even more dangerous. ”
Change is ““The purpose is to ensure sustainability and continue to provide high-quality services to children, youth and families in the community,” CAS said in a press release Saturday morning.
“The financial shortfalls faced by Vekas are primarily driven by the increased demand and costs of supporting children and adolescents with complex needs in our care and communities,” said the Children’s Assistance Association. “This funding gap also reflects the necessary adjustments to service volume and staffing ratios that are critical to meeting the needs of vulnerable children and families.”
The majority of the deficit comes from “the vast amount of resources needed to effectively support children and adolescents with mental health challenges, development delays, behavioral issues and other professional needs”, CAS said.
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“We are committed to providing the best care for children and families, especially those with the most complex needs,” said Derrick Drouillard, executive director of Windsor-Essex Children’s Aid Society in a press release. “However, the growing demand for these services is greatly outweighing our financial capabilities, resulting in difficult but necessary readjustment to our workforce.”
Although CAS did not specifically mention the number of unemployed people and did not close Leamington’s office, it did address the steps being taken.
“The restructuring is also focused on simplifying operations, reducing satellite locations and ensuring the most efficient use of our available workforce to maintain quality of service during this challenging time,” the organization said.
“We know that these changes may bring uncertainty to our employees, service recipients and community partners,” said Kulveer Virk, chairman of the WECAS Board of Directors. “Our priority is to minimize the impact on the children, youth and families we serve. We are fully committed to supporting our dedicated staff through this transition and ensuring they are equipped with the necessary tools and training to continue to provide excellent care and services.”
CUPE said the CAS predicts a deficit of $10 million, an unproven number in the CAS version.
bumacleod@postmedia.com
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