For immediate release

ATHABASCA UNIVERSITY FACULTY & STAFF PROTEST LAYOFFS & REDUCED STUDENT SERVICE TODAY

On Tuesday, Oct. 15, from 12:05 to 12:55, in front of Athabasca University's Edmonton Learning Centre, Athabasca U faculty and staff will hold an information picket and short march to protest that day's temporary layoff of AU support staff and the corresponding impact on student service and learning.

The university administration is temporarily laying off AU support staff (members of AUPE Local 069) on Oct. 15, Dec. 23-24, Jan. 2-3, Feb. 18-21 and March 14. This extraordinary measure will mean reduced student service on these days; it has not been adequately communicated to students; and it may violate AUPE's collective agreement. The labour board has allowed AUPE to carry forward nine separate complaints to hearing.

Faculty and staff from AU's other worker associations (AUFA and CUPE Local 3911) will gather over the lunch hour on Tuesday at AU Edmonton, to provide information to the public about the AUPE layoffs, and to show solidarity with our AUPE counterparts in opposing the layoffs, the layoffs' impact on students, and the internal management and external government pressures that are hurting the quality of postsecondary education for Alberta's students. Postsecondary students, workers, and the public are welcome to join, to show support for AU and for the value of postsecondary education to Albertans.

For more information, contact the Athabasca U Ad Hoc Media Campaign Committee, a working group of concerned AU faculty and staff, care of

Bob Barnetson

1-866-418-7198

bob.barnetson@shaw.ca

or

Jay Smith

1-800-254-5327

jays@athabascau.ca

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