MUN workers urge province for funding increase

Workers at Memorial University Newfoundland (MUN) are urging the provincial government to provide more funding. They are responding to news of an $8.9 million deficit in the university's upcoming budget. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 1615 is calling for immediate action to protect the only public university in the province. Bill Kavanagh, president of CUPE 1615, highlighted that funding for MUN has been cut almost in half since 2013. He expressed concerns about the condition of the university's campuses, stating that MUN cannot guarantee a safe learning and working environment for students and staff. The projected budget deficit is seen as a critical issue. Kavanagh emphasized that this situation could lead to long-term damage to public education in Newfoundland and Labrador. A recent report by the provincial Auditor General raised similar concerns about the university's infrastructure, noting that old problems from a 2014 audit have not been addressed. Sherry Hillier, president of CUPE Newfoundland & Labrador, criticized the university's resource management and the significant decline in public funding. She argued that Newfoundland and Labrador deserves a well-supported public postsecondary institution. CUPE 1615 represents various staff members across MUN's campuses, and they are part of a coalition of nearly 20 unions and campus groups advocating for more public funds. This coalition began its campaign last August to address the university's financial challenges.