Since the end of June 2024, YUFA has been requesting a meeting with the Employer to discuss Health and Safety, security and equity concerns that have been raised by YUFA members working in the Kaneff Tower. YUFA has not received a response from the Employer.

Kaneff Tower houses several Organized Research Units (ORUs) and seminar spaces. Kaneff Tower is also where the university’s senior administration offices are located.

Multiple issues have been reported by YUFA colleagues, dating back to fall 2023, related to intense security activity at times, blocked access to the building, and individuals being screened on entry by security guards.

There seems to be a protocol in place to enter Kaneff, but YUFA members are not clear what it is, and in any case it seems to change without warning. At times the building is completely closed. Without adequate, prior notification of a lockdown, colleagues commute to work, only to discover they cannot access their offices once they are on campus.

YUFA members have indicated that many people, including racialized students, post-docs, visiting scholars, faculty and community members, may not feel comfortable with the heightened security and will simply walk away from the building when they see there is a heavy security presence. This is the opposite of what most ORUs are intended to be: open, welcoming spaces to encourage wide-ranging scholarly and creative discussions.

YUFA is disappointed that the Employer has not been willing to meet to discuss these matters.  If you are not able to access your office, a seminar, or a research-related event due to heightened security, please notify [email protected].