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By Dylana Kneeshaw

job reductions

TRU budget cuts could put 40 CUPE positions on the chopping block

Sep 25, 2025 | 4:23 PM

KAMLOOPS — Federal immigration policies have caused a drop in international student enrolment at Thompson Rivers University (TRU) and without that expected revenue coming in, the university says dozens of employees may be laid off in the school’s effort to balance the budget.

TRU is looking to get out of a significant budget deficit that is related to fewer international students who are able to come study here. TRU President Airini says the university’s domestic enrolment has increased by 4-to-5 per cent for this school year, but international enrolments are lower than recent years.

“We’re not alone in that every university, every post-secondary across Canada is affected by the change in policy,” said Airini Thursday (Sept. 25).

Job reductions are part of the plan to cut back on spending, along with pauses on non-essential capital projects, program and service reviews, cutting discretionary spending and opting not to fill vacant job postings.

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On Wednesday (Sept. 24), 65 CUPE 4879 members were notified about the change, and Airini says up to 40 people could be affected.

“Since November 2024, we’ve looked at every area for creating the rebalancing of our budget. Some of it has to do with the operational sides of things. That could be about travel, that could be about discretionary items, but it also does mean looking at our workforce,” explains Airini.

The layoff notices come after the university says 28 CUPE members voluntarily took early retirement options, nearly 50 faculty members also opted for early retirement and another 38 vacant jobs won’t be filled. In an update posted to the TRU website this week, the university states administrative reductions have also taken place since November 2024.

CFJC has reached out to CUPE 4879 for comment and will have more on this story on Friday (Sept 26).