The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) has raised alarms over nearly 10,000 college faculty and staff facing job losses due to hundreds of program cancellations and suspensions since last year. This situation is described as one of the largest mass layoffs in Ontario’s history, stemming from a severe funding crisis in the college sector.
The Impact of International Student Cap
A recent arbitrated faculty contract highlights the federal government’s cap on international students as a key factor. This policy has led to a 48% decrease in first-semester enrolment of international students from September 2023 to September 2024 across 23 of Ontario’s 24 colleges. The decline in enrolment has resulted in a significant drop in tuition revenue, forcing colleges to cancel or suspend over 600 programs.
The Scale of Job Losses
As of June, 19 colleges have reported current and planned staff reductions totaling more than 8,000 employees. However, the union notes that this data is incomplete, as some colleges have yet to report their layoffs. The OPSEU, representing approximately 55,000 college faculty and support staff, warns that these cuts will have generational impacts on the education sector.
Union’s Response
College workers are prepared to fight back against these cuts, emphasizing the long-term consequences for both education quality and employment stability in the province.
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