Fair Employment Week Event – Thursday, October 19 10:00 a.m

Dear UVic members,

October 16-20 is Fair Employment Week, an annual event to raise awareness about working conditions for staff at colleges and universities across Canada.

This year, labour unions at the University of Victoria will hold a solidarity event on Thursday, October 19 to highlight issues for all of the workers on campus. The event will kick off at 10:00 a.m. at the Grad House Restaurant at the University of Victoria campus. Coffee, tea, and light snacks will be served.

Fair Employment Week:
Solidarity Event
Thursday, October 19
10:00 a.m.
Grad House Restaurant

As the Times Colonist reported earlier this year, the University announced 4% base budget reductions due to declines in international student enrollment.

Previously the UVic unions penned a joint letter to Premier David Eby and Minister Selena Robinson calling for increases to post-secondary funding in British Columbia, and noting the dangers of declining provincial funding, which leads to an increased reliance on international student tuition:

“Our members and communities should not be punished because of the inherent instability of our current post-secondary funding model,” states the letter. “These cuts have further detrimental effects on our members and Universities and Colleges by reducing the number of classes that can be offered, reducing supports that help instructors be the best teachers they can be, while increasing workloads of remaining instructors and staff and thus negatively affecting the quality of education that can be delivered.”

The solidarity action next Thursday will be an opportunity for members to come together and discuss the ongoing effects of the budget cuts. All UVic union members, members of the community, and interested media are welcome to attend the solidarity event.

I hope to see you there,

Cliff Haman
UVic Chapter Chair