The Canadian Union of Public Employees has released a report outlining increased levels of violence facing workers in the K-12 education sector. The union says over a thousand support workers across Saskatchewan participated in the confidential violence survey. According to the results, more than 70 per cent of workers experienced violence in schools in the last there years. Of those, 40 per cent experienced violence on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. 65 per cent said they were concerned about their own personal health and safety at work. And, even though 60 per cent of workers reported violent incidents to their school administrators, 40 per cent said there was no action taken.
Spokesperson Jackie Christianson says, “Budget cuts, increased classroom sizes, and more students with complex needs are leading to more violent incidents.” The report is being handed over to the Ministers of Education, Labour Relations and Workplace Safety today (tues).