Hours before the Lecturers’ Union of Memorial University of Newfoundland (LUMUN) strike deadline of Sunday, March 10, at 11:59 p.m., the Canadians Federation of Students Newfoundland and Labrador (CFS-NL) issued a release that students are preparing to support LUMUN on the picket lines to demand a fair deal from Memorial.
CFS-NL states that students are disappointed that Memorial administrators have allowed the collective agreement for LUMUN to remain expired since 2020 and have delayed returns to the bargaining table four years later.
CFS-NL Chairperson Mary Feltham states, “Working conditions for lecturers and faculty are also learning conditions for students. We need employees to be treated with fairness and respect in order to maintain quality education… Students actively supported MUNFA members on the picket line a year ago, and we will again be supporting workers if LUMUN moves to strike action.”
CFS-NL urged Memorial’s administration to return to the bargaining table with an offer that respects the needs of workers and avoids further disruption to a semester that was already tumultuous for international students with changes to enrolment rules and non-functioning internet services at Grenfell Campus.
MUN Students’ Union Executive Director of Campaigns Jawad Chowdhury states, “Faculty and Lecturers have been active in working with students to resist government funding cuts and misspending by MUN Administrators.”
CFS-NL’s release concludes by encouraging people to participate in the letter-writing campaign organized by LUMUN that asks people to sign and send a message to Memorial’s Administration, House of Assembly Members, and the Federal Minister of Labour to show support for Lecturers at the University in their fight for fair wages and better working conditions.
See the release below:
Matt Barter is a fourth-year student in the Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty at Memorial University of Newfoundland, majoring in Political Science with a minor in Sociology. He enjoys reading thought-provoking articles, walks in nature, and volunteering in the community.
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