Dear MUNFA Member,
Shortly ago, our union joined with other student and labour union representatives to host a press conference calling on Premier Furey and his government to stop the cuts to Memorial University and restore funding to Memorial University.
You will see coverage on our campaign launch on this evening’s news and on local news websites later today.
Together, the MUN Campus Coalition is comprised of:
- MUN Faculty Association (MUNFA)
- CUPE 1615
- CUPE 4554
- MUN Students’ Union (MUNSU)
- Grenfell Campus Students’ Union (GCSU)
- Marine Institute Students’ Union (MISU)
- Graduate Students’ Union of MUN (GSU MUN)
- NAPE (Marine Institute Staff, MUN Custodians, MUN Campus Enforcement and Patrol, MUN Maintenance)
- Marine Institute Faculty Association (NAPE Local 7405)
- Lecturers’ Union of MUN (LUMUN)
- Teaching Assistants’ Union of MUN (TAUMUN)
Collectively, the student and labour unions of our coalition unite and represent over 20,000 students, faculty, and staff at Memorial University.
Our coalition has developed a website – www.fundmun.ca – that will allow students, faculty, and staff at the University, but also the general public across Newfoundland and Labrador and around the world to quickly and easily email their elected officials directly calling to take action to restore funding to our province’s public University. People will be able to learn more about the campaign, share their stories on how funding cuts are impacting them on our website, and spread the message on social media via the hashtag #fundmun.
This is one element of our campaign – the campaign will include direct government relations, public and media relations, and engaging and activating our members.
We also have campaign posters available for members should they wish to put them on their door/in their departments.
Memorial University plays an integral role in our province – academically, socially, culturally, and economically. Our one and only public university also has a special obligation to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.
NL has just one public university, one university for our government to adequately fund, and one chance to get it right. It should be accessible to all and of the highest quality – where students and workers are valued and supported and given every chance to succeed.
We constantly hear from our members about the frustrations and stress of working in a University that has been whittled away over the past decade. Our members went on strike to fight for a better University for all but some of the most pressing issues cannot be won at the bargaining table – they require applying pressure on politicians.
We consistently see stories in the news about worker shortages in education, healthcare and other sectors. We see new and emerging markets and industries in green energy and the tech sector. Where do the workers, and knowledge, and research support for these sectors come from? They largely come from Memorial University. This university is a big part of the engine that drives our province forward. When we allow that engine to fall into a state of disrepair and ruin, we are all – everyone in our province – impacted by that.
Cuts must end and funding needs to be restored to Memorial University. Doing so would be a responsible investment in our province, its people, and our collective future – one that will pay huge dividends for generations to come.
MUNFA will be holding a Town Hall to talk about the campaign, but more importantly, to provide a forum for members to share the impact that funding cuts are having on them and how we can work together to reverse the cuts.
The MUNFA Member Town Hall will take place virtually:
Friday, September 27
11am to 1pm
Join Zoom Meeting – HERE
Meeting ID: 899 9200 2305
I hope you can join us at our Town Hall. Please visit the campaign website and lend your voice at www.fundmun.ca and stay tuned for future updates on this campaign as we continue to put pressure on Premier Furey and his government to restore funding to our public University.
In solidarity,
Ash Hossain
President
MUNFA
