UWOFA Responds to Ministry of Labour Inspection Findings at Western University
October 1, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(London, Ont.) – The union representing faculty members at Western University (UWOFA) condemns unprecedented academic program and job cuts announced at Laurentian University this week.
Nearly 70 academic programs have been cut, including core academic subjects throughout the sciences, social sciences, arts, humanities, and health sciences, as well as professional programs. About 100 faculty members, including tenured professors and Canada Research Chairs, had their employment terminated without severance.
UWOFA stands in solidarity with students, staff, and faculty at Laurentian. The Association is calling on Western’s administration to speak out as well, reaffirming the importance of proper funding for education province-wide, and emphasizing the important cultural, intellectual and financial roles of universities in their communities: both in general and specific to Laurentian’s unique mandate in the North.
“This assault on northern, bilingual, and Indigenous education represents a failure of leadership by Laurentian’s administration, and by the provincial government that oversaw the erosion of funding to public universities,” said Beth MacDougall-Shackleton. “This should never have happened, and should never be permitted to happen again.”
Contact
Vanessa Frank, Communications Officer
vbrown5@uwo.ca
519-859-4630