For immediate release
March 10, 2024

Students preparing to support LUMUN on strike at MUNL

ST. JOHN’S - With news that LUMUN members have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action, students are preparing to support workers on the picket lines in demanding a fair deal from MUNL.

Students are disappointed that MUNL Administrators have allowed the collective agreement for LUMUN to remain expired since 2020, and are still delaying returns to the bargaining table four years later.

“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 for students at MUNL, ” said Mary Feltham, Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students Newfoundland and Labrador. “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,” Feltham continued. 

With news that LUMUN has set a strike deadline for Sunday, March 10 at 11:59 pm, students are urging MUNL Administrators to return to the bargaining table with an offer that respects the needs of workers, and avoids further disruption to an already tumultuous semester for students with changes to enrolment rules for International Students, and with significant gaps in functional internet services for students at Grenfell campus since the start of the semester.

In addition to a long history of students and workers collaborating on solidarity actions across unions, these relationships have been bolstered in recent years by shared opposition to provincial government funding cuts to post-secondary education, and in criticizing misspending by MUNL Administration as highlighted in the Auditor General’s report.

“Faculty and lecturers have been active in working with students to resist government funding cuts and misspending by MUNL Administrators. It is clear that we face shared struggles and need to collaborate to advocate for necessary changes,” said Jawad Chowdhury, MUNSU Executive Director of Campaigns. “The University and Government are clearly failing the needs of students and workers, making our solidarity actions more necessary than ever to push for fairness at MUNL.”

Students are also encouraging people to participate in a letter-writing campaign organized by LUMUN, asking people to sign and send a message to Memorial University’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. More information can be found at this link: https://act.newmode.net/action/canadian-association-university-teachers/fairness-lumun 

‍

-30-

For further information, please contact:‍

Robert Leamon, Organizer
709.737.3204 (O), 709.771.0222 (M)
r.leamon@cfs-nl.ca 

The Canadian Federation of Students - Newfoundland and Labrador proudly unites 25,000 public post-secondary students in NL in the fight for high-quality, affordable, post-secondary education.