The public college system is under attack, and Algonquin College is seeing the effects as much as any other campus.
In the last year alone, we’ve seen the announced closure of some 40 programs, layoff threats to over a hundred faculty, the closure of an entire campus, and the spectre of more in the near future.
This is taking a human toll, measured in the colleagues around us, the communities we live in, and the futures of thousands of students.
From Regulatory Affairs, to college staples like Esthetician and Hospitality Management, all the way to our foundational services such as Academic Upgrading, our colleges are bearing witness to the results of cuts from the Ford government, changes to international student recruitment, and mismanagement from our college leadership.
Let us not lose sight of the fact that Algonquin College made a record surplus in 2023-24 and posted yet another $23M surplus a few weeks ago.
At this critical time in the history of education in Ontario, we must come together to fight to protect our colleges. OPSEU is hosting an Emergency Town Hall this Wednesday, June 25, at 7:00 pm, to share how we’re organizing to fight back.
Given this new reality, what can we do? What can you do?
➡ Register now: Emergency Town Hall – June 25 at 7:00 pm
➡ Bring five colleagues with you. Forward this message. Make space for this conversation.
It’s going to take all of us — all Professors, Instructors, Counsellors, Librarians, and Support Staff — to enact real change. Join us to learn how together we will fight program closures and layoffs, and Save our Colleges.
As OPSEU President JP Hornick reminded us last week in a call to action for college faculty: “These are tough times, but despair is not an option.” We need to build this movement together, and we need to build it now.
In solidarity,
Your Local 415 Leadership Team
Tracy Henderson, President
Judy Puritt, First Vice-President
Martin Lee, Second Vice-President
Tara Ettinger, Lead Steward
Liz von Moos, Secretary
Saif Terai, Treasurer