Students, Faculty and Workers organized another anti-austerity rally at the University of Manitoba on Apr. 1st. Unlike with the previous rally, protesters were barred from entering the Senate discussion. The rally started at the Engineering Atrium and made its way through the main campus.

The protest was a response to over 20 service jobs being cut from the administrative services. Approximately 45,000 working hours will now have to be absorbed by the remaining staff. These lay-offs are separate from the proposed budget cuts, leaving faculty and students worried about what is to come. If the proposition passes in its current form, a 4% budget cut to all faculties will occur. The administration has not made it clear exactly which faculties will be cut.

Matthew Brett, one of the organizers of the rally, said that although turnout was smaller than the previous rally, he hopes that people do not lose hope and continue to resist austerity measures. In addition to the recent lay-offs, the protesters repeated their concern over the lack of financial transparency of the University of Manitoba. Some protesters took particular umbrage to the fact that while professors and workers have been enduring lower pay and less benefits, those at the top of the administrative ladder have seen increased salaries, not to mention the increase in advertising budgets at the expense of more essential services.

Walter Dyck.