Layoff notices for University Players staff rescinded, union says

Layoff notices for staff at the University of Windsor's University Players theatre company have been rescinded, the union representing workers noted Friday. 

CUPE Local 1393 said in a statement the announcement of the closure in June, related to the university's efforts to mitigate a $5.6 million shortfall, "has caused significant concern among students, staff, alumni and the broader community."

The union says according to its collective agreement, "alternatives must be considered before layoffs take place in any university department." It represents six staff affected by the closure within the School of Dramatic Art.  

The layoff notices, issued in June, have been rescinded and the university and union are now "actively" discussing alternatives. 

"While we understand that the university is engaged in budgetary realignment at this time, we remain hopeful that a solution can be found that will preserve the program in some form, restoring staff to their positions and providing much-needed experiential learning opportunities [for] students affected by this decision," says Kristen Siapas, acting president of CUPE 1393. 

The University Players is the theatre company's arm of the School of Dramatic Art, where students take classes in practical elements of theatre. 

In a statement Friday, the University of Windsor said the university had met with the union about the closure. 

"Following the stipulations of the collective agreement, a consultative meeting was held on July 30 to identify alternative opportunities and support mechanisms for those impacted by the closure," the university statement said, 

"The University of Windsor and Local 1393 are dedicated to working collaboratively on solutions that protect academic excellence and provide meaningful experiential learning opportunities while realizing necessary efficiencies."

University announcement drew backlash from theatre community

The university's announcement in June drew swift backlash from not only students and staff, but the theatre community at large. 

Former students, and those who have gone on to acting and theatre careers including  Antoni Cimolino, artistic director of the Stratford Festival of Canada, spoke out about the decision. 

In announcing the closures, the university cited "fluctuating" enrolment, a domestic tuition freeze and provincial policy among the reasons. Salaries and costs for the University Players outpaced revenue by more than $1 million, it said.