McGill University unions criticize layoffs and budget cuts amid $45 million deficit

FILE: The Roddick Gates are monumental gates that serve as the main entrance to the McGill University campus are seen on November 14, 2017 in Montreal. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press)

In an open letter released Monday, McGill unions are criticizing the university’s recent decision to lay off nearly 100 employees and its wider budget cuts in response to a $45 million operating deficit.

“McGill seeks to push the consequences of budget shortfalls onto its already overworked staff while seeking to insulate their extremely well-paid Senior Administration,” the unions wrote.

In an internal memo sent to McGill University staff in March, the university noted that its workforce accounts for approximately 80 per cent of its operating expenses.

“What they fail to mention is that over 17 per cent of McGill’s salary budget was spent on executive and management staff as of the 2023-2024 financial year,” the letter continued.

“In 2013-2014, this figure was 9 per cent. If McGill’s executive and managerial salary mass had risen at the same rate as all other job classes at the university, the university would be saving $71 million dollars.”

In February, the institution announced that it would need to reduce its workforce by around 350 to 500 workers. At the time, McGill said that it had hoped it would be able to achieve this through attrition but that now, the layoffs were “unavoidable.”

“Conveniently, 99 is exactly the threshold for the minimum eight weeks of notice under Quebec law regulating collective dismissal,” the union representatives wrote.

“For the dismissal of 100 to 299 workers, a notice period of 12 weeks is required; for over 300, a notice period of 16 weeks is required. How can we trust that there will be no further layoffs?”

In the letter, the unions also denounced the university’s decision to hire NousCubane, a consulting firm they say has been associated with “commencing layoffs at other universities in Canada.”

The unions say McGill paid the firm $372,500 and that NousCubane sent surveys to full-time employees without their knowledge prior to the Feb. 7 budget cuts announcement.

“In doing so, the unions contend that McGill Administration infringed on Article 12 of the Quebec Labour Code which states that “No employer, or person acting for an employer or an association of employers, shall in any manner seek to dominate, hinder or finance the formation or the activities of any association of employees, or to participate therein.”

CTV News reached out to McGill University for a statement. The university declined to comment and referred back to its March 19 internal memo.

In the memo, McGill said that workers affected by the layoffs would be notified by the end of April.

“The fact that this is necessary doesn’t make it any easier. The decision to lay someone off is heartrending, but it pales in comparison with the impact on the colleagues who will no longer be part of our teams,” McGill said at the time.