The City of Windsor has announced a significant workforce reduction, with 57 part-time recreational facility attendant positions set to be eliminated this spring. The job cuts, which will take effect on April 21, represent nearly 60 part-time city workers who will be out of employment.
Union Agreement Revocation Leads to Job Losses
According to city officials, the layoffs result from CUPE Local 82's decision to revoke a memorandum of agreement that had previously allowed for dozens of part-time maintenance positions at community centers and arenas. The union represents city outdoor workers, and their withdrawal from the agreement has forced the municipality to conclude these positions.
The city emphasized that this change does not impact any regular full-time employees, only affecting part-time workers in recreational facilities. This distinction provides some reassurance to the permanent workforce while highlighting the precarious nature of part-time municipal employment.
History of Negotiations and Previous Reductions
The agreement concerning part-time workers was originally signed in August 2025 after nearly two years of negotiations between the city and the union. This agreement replaced a previous arrangement that CUPE Local 82 had also revoked in June of last year, which resulted in the reduction of 37 positions at that time.
In a formal news release, the City of Windsor stated, "The Corporation has complied with all terms outlined in the Memorandum of Agreement and held several meetings with the union to discuss their issues." Despite these efforts, "the union ultimately decided to withdraw from the agreement," leading to the current job losses.
Union Response and Communication Challenges
The Windsor Star reported being unable to reach a representative from CUPE Local 82 for comment before the print deadline on Thursday. This lack of immediate response from union leadership leaves questions unanswered about their specific reasons for revoking the agreement and their perspective on the resulting job losses.
The situation highlights ongoing tensions between municipal management and labor representatives in Windsor, particularly regarding part-time positions in recreational facilities that serve the community's needs.
As spring approaches, these 57 workers face uncertain employment prospects while the city adjusts its recreational facility staffing model following the union's decision to withdraw from the negotiated agreement.
