The Canadian Union of Public Employees is “deeply concerned” by word that Memorial University is working with a budget deficit of $20 million.

CUPE says as a result, some university services have been eliminated, and workers have already been laid off.

CUPE 1615 President Bill Kavanaugh says they’re concerned about what that means for both workers at MUN, and for students.

Kavanagh says it appears as though some services performed by laid-off CUPE members have been handed off to other workers at MUN. He says the services of the writing centre, which was closed after 40 years, have been merged with the Centre for Innovation in Teaching and Learning.

CUPE President Sherry Hillier says it’s been months since they asked government to step in and take action, and now workers are losing their jobs.

CUPE Local 1615 is one of close to 20 unions and campus associations calling for the province to #FundMUN.