OPSEU statement about pending Sault College layoffs

Local 613 of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, representing academic staff at Sault College, have released a statement about pending layoffs there.

The following is the full text of tonight's OPSEU release:

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The possibility that Sault College's management might once again suspend programs means that our community will have less choice for quality education.

This would fly in the face of local and provincial wisdom, since it would come at a time when the colleges are expecting an increase in students due to the 'double cohort' of high school students (which by Sault College's own admission has lead to a 14.6% increase in applications for the upcoming academic year).

The fact that Sault College's management is continuing to hire more managers and another vice-president, with the aid of high-priced consulting firms, makes staff layoffs all the more distasteful.

The unfortunate result of such management practice will be a loss of excellent education programs and services for students.

This, in turn, would reduce futture revenue for the College and continue the 'downward spiral' of reductions that began in 1996.

OPSEU Local 613, representing academic employees, will examine all material related to this and will invite discussions with management with the goal of preserving the current level of academic excellence of Sault College.

Approved for release, March 11, 2003.

Jeff Arbus President, OPSEU Local 613

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