Solidarity. Not Austerity.
At a “Strategy Session for Senior Leaders,” held on May 29 in a packed Ban Righ Dining Hall, Principal Patrick Deane likened Queen’s to a frog being slowly boiled alive. The Principal acknowledged that he had been caught by surprise by the depth of the university’s current budgetary problems. Previously, he had understood our challenges … Continue reading Cooking to Death?
A long weekend means a short newsletter this week! It is almost the end of May, and we still do not know what’s up in ArtSci in terms of staff layoffs. We know they are coming. But when exactly? And how many? It’s a few weeks since the VEI program applications were due. Many (all?) … Continue reading Newsletter #16 (5/24/2024)
On May 15th, the Gazette published a statement about the 2023-24 fiscal year and the upcoming 2024-25 budget for the university. In this statement, administrators outlined arguments regarding the university’s fiscal planning. Here, we address some points that are worth further discussion. Using investment income: A middle ground and something the university is doing The … Continue reading A critical read: Providing context for the University’s budget announcement
Well, what to say this week, except that the ideological and political basis for the financial/employment/governance/morale/quality crisis at Queen’s keeps getting clearer. When we call something ideological, we are recognizing that while it might be presented as being true or factual or common sense, it actually arises from a particular set of beliefs and values, … Continue reading Newsletter #15 (5/10/2024)
Thanks for reading and sharing these newsletters, with special appreciation to those who have been sharing with staff, faculty and students in your departments. If you just found us recently, you can see the 13 previous editions of this newsletter on this website. Here you will also find recordings of the three teach-ins we have … Continue reading Newsletter #14 (4/26/2024)
How many people in FAS are going to be laid off? When? How is the work going to get done after the layoffs happen? 1. The Faculty of Arts and Science Faculty Board is meeting today, Friday, April 19th at 3:30 pm in Mac-Corry B201 or via Zoom. The agenda is available here. This meeting … Continue reading Newsletter #13 (4/19/2024)
Well, this week started in spectacular fashion! Thanks to all the Queen’s astronomers, the CUPE and USW members, and others who helped us watch the eclipse with enough knowledge to make some sense of it, with our free glasses, and with the ease that came of not really having to think about how that knowledge … Continue reading Newsletter #12 (4/12/2024)
JOINT MEMBER ASSEMBLY Thurs April 4, 2024 at 12 pm From a Unity Council press release: "Leaders of several unions representing almost 5,000 employees of Queen’s University and Aramark will host a public assembly for their members on Thursday, April 4, at 12pm at the Main Gym, Queen’s Athletic Recreation Centre (ARC), 284 Earl Street, Kingston."Leaders of several … Continue reading Call to Action: Come to the ARC gym at noon!
It’s the last week of classes! And next week starts with the eclipse! 1. It’s been great to see our dusty, end-of-winter campus covered in posters for the Joint Members Assembly that will be held on Thursday, April 4th at noon in the ARC gym. This event has been organized by Unity Council for members … Continue reading Newsletter #11 (4/3/2024)
Not a lot has changed since last week. The provincial funding situation remains the same. There is still no coherent plan for how the work of the Faculty of Arts and Science will get done as we lose staff, adjuncts, and regular faculty. The Nous project is still wasting staff time. Students, staff, and faculty … Continue reading Newsletter #10 (3/27/2024)
Queen's Coalition Against Austerity 