Greeted with a surprise reception by the union representing university support workers and their allies, the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) president was reminded during his visit to Regina yesterday that attacking workers’ pensions is not an acceptable vision for Saskatchewan’s largest university. U of S President, Peter Stoicheff was visiting Regina from Saskatoon for a special event billed as an opportunity to network and hear about the bold vision from the university’s top official. For the workers at the U of S, the closed-door networking event in a different city appeared glaringly out-of-touch with the labour discontent and strike looming at the university caused by the cuts its top brass is demanding from workers.
“The U of S President and the board should be reminded that they are being reckless and misguided in their attacks to the pensions of university support workers and wage freezes that deny the reality of a rising cost of living,” said Tom Graham, president of CUPE Saskatchewan. “Dedicated university workers deserve much more respect than what they are getting from the USask president and the board of governors.”
Graham strongly urges the president and senior leadership at the university to reconsider their misguided position and return to the bargaining table with a fair deal without reductions to the sustainable defined benefit pension plan for the university’s support workers.
CUPE and its allies will continue to watch for fairness to be served on the wine and cheese tour of the university president. Join a CUPE solidarity rally along the tour. Contact Nathan Markwart at CUPE Saskatchewan at 306-757-1009.
