CedarBridge Academy staff have threatened to strike if the school board moves forward with a plan to reduce their weekly hours.

Support staff could see their hours reduced from 35 to 30 hours a move one employee says will save the senior school $100,000 a year.

The Bermuda Public Services Union (BPSU) and the Devonshire school's board of governors are now in talks over whether administrative assistants, security guards, maintenance workers and cafeteria workers will lose approximately one hour a day in pay.

An upset staff member contacted this paper to explain such a cut could cost employees anywhere between $422 a month to $1,000, depending on the worker's position.

She said it was completely unfair as many of the staff members are single moms, people with mortgages and people trying to feed their children.

"They want to cut all the support staff hours by an hour a day," she said. "We are not in agreement with that. We are stretched now. They want the same quantity of work and quality of work. They cannot get that if you cut our hours.

"For the past four or five years the school has been underfunded. They are talking about cutting the hours yet the board of governors has a full-time administrative assistant who makes close to $80,000 a year. If you want to cut somewhere why do you want a full-time administrative assistant?

CedarBridge board of directors chairman George Scott and Education Minister El James yesterday did not respond to e-mailed questions for comment.

"We have given him [George Scott] some ideas of where they can cut costs," the woman continued. "He has proven to us that once he has put his mind to [reducing the hours] that's what he's going to do.

"He is a union man. He works for the BIU. We hear him all the time talking about the corporation workers but yet up here he is not standing up for workers."

M. Scott has reportedly said that the proposal to cut staffing hours was difficult but the board was trying to keep everyone employed.

Yesterday BPSU general secretary Ed Ball said the union would be meeting with the board and staff members next week.

He said he was disappointed to see large amounts of money being directed away from education and towards other projects and consultants.

"There are still discussions taking place with the board," he said. "My main concern is that a school that we have a stake of kids in, are trying to cut budgets and we are turning on a group of workers to make up the shortage. I thought we wouldn't cut a budget of a school if we, as a people, want to see it succeed.

"I would think we would need to take funds from other areas, especially where there are a high percentage of consultants, and put it to the help of the people.

"Rather than spend the money overseas with consultants we need to cut back. We need to get it back. Bermudians need to take charge of their own destiny.

"If you continue to cut back on the schools in particular it doesn't bode well for the community. Until such time that members make a decision one way or another I will reserve further comments."