August 16, 2022, GREATER SUDBURY—The Laurentian University Faculty Association (LUFA), Laurentian University Staff Union (LUSU), and Laurentian University Board of Governors are recommending that creditors vote in favour of the negotiated Plan of Arrangement that will allow Laurentian to conclude the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act process.
Parties have been engaged in negotiating the Plan of Arrangement for several months. Following further negotiations on issues important to its members, including a commitment to union consultation on governance reform, and a commitment to fast track the evaluation process in connection with three new faculty positions with a view to adding up to three tenure track appointments in 2023, LUFA has joined LUSU in confirming that it supports the CCAA Plan. Both LUFA and LUSU are recommending their members vote in favour.
This represents a very positive development in Laurentian’s path to exit from the CCAA proceeding. With both LUFA and LUSU supporting the Plan and encouraging their members to vote in favour, Laurentian’s ability to successfully emerge from the CCAA proceeding has gained important momentum. Implementation of the Plan will secure the future of the university, continuing employment for approximately 600 full time employees and several hundred part time employees, the continuation of the pension plan, and no disruption for students.
“This Plan represents the best path forward for our members,” said LUFA Vice-President Louis Durand. “It provides additional faculty input in governance, protects our members’ hard-earned pension plans, and secures the future of Laurentian University in Sudbury.”
“We believe that a vote in favour of the plan is in the best interest of our members,” said LUSU President Tom Fenske. “The plan represents a viable path forward for Laurentian university and all its stakeholders.”
“We are truly grateful for the efforts of LUFA and LUSU throughout this CCAA proceeding,” said Laurentian Board Chair Jeff Bangs. “The focus is now firmly on the university’s future for the benefit of students, employees, all stakeholders and the broader community that Laurentian serves.”
The vote will take place on September 14 and creditors can cast their ballots by mail in advance or at the virtual meeting.
LUFA was founded in 1979 and, prior to the CCAA proceedings, represented over 400 full-time and 300 part-time professors at Laurentian University, the University of Sudbury, Huntington University, and Thorneloe University. Today, LUFA represents roughly 250 full-time and 200 part-time professors at Laurentian University. For more information about LUFA, visit: www.lufappul.ca.
LUSU represents approximately 210 staff members at Laurentian University. They include clerical and secretarial employees, technologists, technicians, computer staff, maintenance personnel, library staff including library technicians and assistants, operating engineers, printing services employees and security. For more information about LUSU, visit: www.lusu-seul.ca.
Laurentian University serves over 8,000 students on its campus in Sudbury, Ontario, and is one of two bilingual universities in the province of Ontario. Committed to its bilingual, tri-cultural mandate, Laurentian University offers an outstanding university experience in English and French with a comprehensive approach to Indigenous education. For more information about Laurentian, visit: www.laurentian.ca.