Rally for education in Hinton May 21
Support staff of the Evergreen Catholic School Board will hold a rally May 21 to bring attention to the effects of severe funding cuts to education in Alberta.
Lay-offs at Red Deer College a blow to education and local economy
RED DEER – Thirty-four Red Deer College employees represented by the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees are losing their jobs as a result of a 7.3-per-cent funding cut by the Redford government.
Post-secondary institutes had been promised a two-per-cent increase. The cut is reported to have cost the college $6 million. Sixty five employees across the campus are losing their jobs, with AUPE members taking the largest hit.
“This is a major blow to staff, students and the community alike,” said AUPE Vice President Jason Heistad.
“Taking $6 million out of post-secondary in Red Deer means taking $6 million out of the local economy.
“The tuition may be the same next year, but the quality of the service will be lower. Students and their families will be getting less return on their education investment,” he said.
Many of the position reductions are in the area of information technology support, library services, and student advising and recruitment. Advising and recruitment has been cut in half.
“So much of a student’s learning happens outside of the classroom, and it’s our members that ensure research can be done quickly and provide the technology to support their studies,” said Heistad.
“The blow to recruiting and advising is huge. It means fewer students learning about the advantages not only of the college, but the entire community of Red Deer. And it means fewer people to help students design a program of study that can ensure their success upon graduation,” he said.
Red Deer College is a major employer in the region. AUPE represents approximately 300 post-secondary support employees at the campus.
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For more information:
Jason Heistad, Vice-President, AUPE – 403-373-2532
Mark Wells, Senior Communications Advisor, AUPE – 780-904-0688
Nursing education award winner
To wrap up Nurses Week, AUPE would like to extend our congratulations to Deb Zukowski (right). She won this year’s Rita McGregor Excellence in Nursing Education Award at the CLPNA Conference held last month in Banff. Deb is an AUPE member and a steward at her worksite with NorQuest College. The award was presented by Rita McGregor (left). Congratulations, Deb!
Deputy Premier's meddling with post-secondary unprecedented - AUPE
EDMONTON – “Deputy Premier and Advanced Education Minister Thomas Lukaszuk’s marching orders for contract negotiations at post-secondary institutions is an unprecedented and appalling interference with their independence,” said Alberta Union of Provincial Employees President Guy Smith.
Rally for education at the U of L
Over 200 people attended a midday rally at the University of Lethbridge on Apr. 16. Students, faculty, and members of Local 053, which represents support staff, attended and spoke out in support of post-secondary education in Alberta. Photo courtesy of CTV.
University of Lethbridge staff and supporters to rally for post-secondary education Apr. 16
Members of AUPE Local 053, which represents support staff at the University of Lethbridge, will gather Apr. 16 with students and supporters for a rally in support of post-secondary education in Alberta.
Post-secondary purge continues: 60 employees cut at Lakeland College
EDMONTON – Advanced Education Minister Thomas Lukaszuk’s budget cuts will force more than 60 employees out of work at Lakeland College campuses as multiple programs are being eliminated to satisfy the Alberta government’s harsh 7.3-per-cent budget cut.
AUPE President writes Athabasca University Board of Governors
AUPE President Guy Smith wrote the following letter to the Board of Governors of Athabasca University on March 26. The letter expresses the union’s objection to recent layoffs and staff reductions, and the effect the cuts will have on the quality of education at the campus, the morale of remaining staff, and the local economy.
AUPE warns job cuts at Athabasca University just the beginning
EDMONTON – The 77 jobs lost at Athabasca University are just the beginning of the government’s assault on post-secondary education, warns Alberta Union of Provincial Employees’ Executive Secretary-Treasurer Bill Dechant.
Local 071/013 team meets
Members of AUPE Local 071/013, Edmonton Catholic Separate School District No.7, met at union headquarters March 18 in Edmonton.