The University of Western Ontario will lay off 55 staff members following unanimous approval of the 2009-10 operating and capital budgets by the Board of Governors on April 30.
The job losses include 25 members of the group represented by the Professional and Managerial Association (PMA) and 30 members of the University of Western Ontario Staff Association (UWOSA).
The university has also eliminated 28 positions that are currently vacant. Another 31 individuals have elected to take the voluntary retirement incentive program.
“The total manpower adjustment in terms of full-time jobs at the university tallies to 114,” says Gitta Kulczycki, Vice-President (Resources & Operations). There are about 2,440 full-time staff members at Western.
Jane O’Brien, Associate Vice-President (Human Resources), says her focus will be on supporting those who will receive the notices.
She says the university and her group will ensure availability of a variety of services including career counselling and career workshops. Financial counselling and other supports will also be made available.
Kulczycki says PMA members will have priority for other job placements; however they do not have “bumping rights.” UWOSA’s collective agreement allows employees to bump positions according to seniority.
While the university will make the announcements in May, she says it will take some time to work through the job position adjustments.
Fred Longstaffe, Provost & Vice President (Academic), says about 10 faculty members have elected to take the phased retirement option.
“Of course the deans will continue on the faculty and staff side to keep a very close eye on any new hiring and we will still continue to approve any new hiring on a mission-critical basis,” he says.
The university is entering the third year of its four-year planning period and faces an expected investment income revenue loss of $46.25 million over the last three years of the four-year plan from non-endowed investments. As well, Longstaffe stressed the university’s expenditures are expected to surpass its revenues.
Overall, the university is projecting operating revenues of $526.4 million in 2009-10 and expenditures of $539.7 million, leaving the university with an in-year deficit of $13.3 million. The shortfall will be made up from an operating reserve this year, and the reserve is expected to be down to the board-mandated $2.5 million at the end of the four-year planning period.
Although the budget process has been a much debated and a contentious issue, Michele Noble, Chair of Western’s Board of Governors, says she is proud of the university’s transparency about the issue.
“The pressures we are experiencing are being felt by other universities. I think what we have been able to do here at Western is have a very open and transparent process,” she says. “I think at the end of the day we have a budget that reflects, yes, difficult decisions that had to be made and the stage is set for some of their effects still to be felt.
“At the end of the day we have a budget that everyone clearly understands and has had their opportunity to have their say and has been approved not just by the board today, but approved by the Senate. I think that’s a credit to everyone.”