University support staff face uncertainty as layoffs coincided with a week dedicated to mental health and wellness on campus.
United Steelworkers (USW) Local 2010, the union representing and protecting the workplace rights of support staff at Queen’s, announced in a Nov. 13 press release that workforce reductions were initiated during the University’s annual Thrive Week— a week Queen’s dedicates to wellness and mental health on campus. According to USW Local 2010 President Kelly Orser, a dozen Steelworkers were laid off.
“Twelve Steelworkers were impacted over Thrive Week, though we can’t speak to other restructuring or layoff decisions that might have been made recently to Queen’s non-unionized and non-USW staff. The reason given to USW Local 2010 by the University for these position losses was organization restructuring,” Orser wrote in a statement to The Journal.
According to Queen’s, Thrive Week, held this year from Nov. 4 to 8, offers activities aimed at promoting positive mental health and building a sense of community. Events this year saw themes of celebrating resilience and personal growth.
READ MORE: Ten years of Thrive emphasizes resilience and growth
Orser described the challenges of job insecurity during the holiday season as “deeply stressful and upsetting.”
“USW Local 2010 is actively working to support our affected members, providing advocacy and resources to navigate this challenging period,” Orser said. “While specific employment details cannot be disclosed for confidentiality reasons, we are also negotiating with the University to try to redeploy staff to other positions.”
The layoffs and restructures, according to the University, are part of Queen’s broader efforts to address the projected $35.7 million operating budget deficit. However, this choice has raised questions about the University’s commitment to employee welfare, particularly as staff face increasing job insecurity during a time meant to highlight mental health,
according to USW Local 2010’s press release.
“The timing of this decision has raised questions for Steelworkers about the University’s commitment to supporting staff wellness. While Thrive Week workshops and events took place, support staff impacted by layoffs and restructures faced uncertainty about their future and livelihoods,” the press release said.
USW Local 2010 conducted a recent bargaining survey to gather Steelworkers’ experiences with austerity measures at Queen’s, including restructures and layoffs. Anonymous testimonials were shared with The Journal by USW Local 2010 Communications Officer Kelly McDevitt, highlighting concerns from affected workers.
One Steelworker noted while their friend lost a “non-essential” position, their workload increased significantly, leading to concerns about the quality of work and the strain caused by
overtime demands.
In a statement to The Journal, the University acknowledged the difficult nature of the workforce reductions but emphasized the necessity of these measures in addressing the financial challenges the institution is facing.
To combat the financial deficit, the University has implemented measures such as a hiring freeze, Voluntary Exit Incentives within the Faculty of Arts and Science, and decreased spending on travel, technology, and procurement, as well as operational improvements such as sharing of services and expenses, and new campus partnerships.
“These measures have significantly reduced the number of positions that would be subject to potential layoffs, though we regret this is not always possible,” the University said in a statement to The Journal.
USW Local 2010 stated job security’s essential to workplace wellness and is calling on the University to prioritize transparency and stability during this difficult period.
“Real mental health support in the workplace begins with the stability and security of employment,” the press release said. “Queen’s has an opportunity to make wellness a reality for its staff by protecting the jobs that enable research, teaching, and other essential university functions to flourish.”
As Queen’s navigates its financial challenges, the union stresses that fostering an authentic culture of wellness must include meaningful support for staff, who play an integral role in sustaining the University’s core functions.“Supporting the livelihood of the staff who sustain campus life is a vital way to demonstrate a commitment to authentic, lasting wellness,” the press release said.
In their statement to The Journal, the University added they’re providing additional support to assist workers with job transitions, including redeployment to other roles within the institution where possible. Other resources offered include the Employee and Family Assistance Program which provides career coaching, as well as professional development and training opportunities through the Learning and Development office.
Tags
layoffs, Thrive week, USW Local 2010
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