Fed up with shrinking funding, skyrocketing tuition fees, decaying campuses and increasing corporate control of classrooms, CUPE members marched alongside students in today’s national day of strike and action.
Organized by the Canadian Federation of Students, Access 2000 calls for restored federal funding for post-secondary education and other social programs, a system of national grants, the reduction and eventual elimination of tuition fees, and a set of national standards for post-secondary education.
“The federal Liberals have slashed education and training funding by $7 billion,” said National President Judy Darcy, leading a cheering crowd on Parliament Hill in a chant of ‘Liberals Out!’
“This government has at least a $10 billion surplus. It’s time to fund the future of this country. It’s time to give that money back.
“CUPE members keep colleges and universities working – as sessionals, teaching and research assistants, custodians, support staff and library workers,” said Darcy. “That’s getting harder and harder to do, as funding cuts mean our work is contracted out, privatized and eliminated.
“At the same time, students are paying through the nose. Post-secondary education is being priced out of reach of most working families.
“Privatization is another looming threat,” said Darcy. “Corporations are courting cash-starved institutions, offering to fill the funding gap – in exchange for ownership and control of courses, research and buildings. We won’t let Bay Street and Wall Street call the shots on our campuses. These so-called partnerships benefit corporations at the expense of students, teachers and taxpayers. That’s no partnership.”
To fax your MP about Access 2000, click here.