Around 500 workers at the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto could be on strike tomorrow. This comes after 82% of members voted significantly in favour of a legal strike due to understaffing, service delivery concerns, and chronic workload and burnout.
Children’s Aid Society of Toronto serves the purpose of offering child protection services and investigating abuse or neglect cases among children. However, due to years of provincial underfunding, there has been increased risk to their resources. That’s why on Monday, January 26, 2026, CUPE Local 2316 filed a “no board” report, triggering a countdown to be in a legal strike position on February 13, 2026.
“Workers are exhausted, services are being cut to the bone, and the employer is still refusing to address the staffing crisis,” stated union president Aubrey Gonsalves in a statement posted on the CUPE 2316 website. “This is no longer sustainable, and it is no longer safe for workers, and the children, youth and families we support.” The union believes that the cuts to the internal and preventative programs decrease the protection and safety of the children in need of these services.
The union holds both the employer, CAS, and the provincial government responsible for the crisis workers are facing. CAS has continued to eliminate jobs and subject workers to poor working conditions, while failing to secure more funding from the provincial government for child welfare.
The 1954 Child Welfare Act and its subsequent Regulations and Amendments initiated the process of the CAS shifting from a privately funded charity to a system where government funding officially became the primary source of the budgets. Therefore government decisions increasingly shaped staffing capacity and program priorities, causing significant risks and operational strain.
The Children’s Aid Society is not the only social service that has lost funding over recent years. Ontario’s government has introduced austerity measures across a number of public services, including healthcare and education, with more cuts set to take place in 2026. If the CAS does not return to the bargaining table with solutions, approximately 500 workers could be commencing a legal strike tomorrow.
Be part of the conversation!
Only subscribers can comment. Subscribe to The North Star to join the conversation under our articles with our journalists and fellow community members. If you’re already subscribed, log in.