Premier Needs to Tell Universities Not to Target Low Paid Workers to Balance their Budgets

(Dartmouth) The Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union (NSGEU) is raising concerns that the recent contracting out of food services by the Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) to a private American company, forcing twenty seven people of out of work, will open the floodgates for other universities to balance their budgets on the backs of some of the lowest paid and most vulnerable workers in the post-secondary sector.

“The NSCC cited an $800-thousand budget deficit as a primary factor in their decision to contract out this work and layoff these twenty-seven workers,” said NSGEU President Sandra Mullen. “Some of these workers were close to retirement and have families that rely on their benefits for health care and their pension to support them when they are done working. These layoffs came out of nowhere and we want to make sure that other universities don’t see this as an opportunity to make those workers at the bottom of the organizational chart be forced to pay the price for the universities financial challenges.”

Post secondary universities have been struggling to raise enough revenue due to the reduction in international student enrollment, tuition freezes, and skyrocketing inflation. Most of the province’s post-secondary institutions are projecting significant budget deficits.

“People who work in service, support, administration and faculty play a vital role in ensuring that students get the services and supports they need to thrive while at school,” said Mullen. “It is likely that more universities will begin a process aimed to cut, close and reduce staff, services and programs. We are asking for Premier Houston to stand up for working people and provide clear direction to all post-secondary institutions that any cost saving schemes should not target employees working in the service or support sector.”

“The choice to leverage so much revenue on the admission of international students was made at the highest level of these institutions. Now that revenue stream has been shut off by the federal government those at the bottom should not have their jobs threatened or targeted,” said Mullen.

The NSGEU encourages the Houston government to work with all post-secondary institutions in the creation of a stable and consistent funding model that keeps our institutions sustainable, makes it affordable for students and protects hard working employees.

“The union is committed and ready to work with Premier Houston and other stakeholders to find solutions that protect the interests of workers and provides a path to the long-term health and sustainability of our valuable post-secondary education system.”