‘Paws off our pension’: CUPE members rally at U of S

A cacophony of sound and a sea of pink flags swarmed the University of Saskatchewan bowl during the noon hour Tuesday, as hundreds of union members decried the institution’s labour standoff with non-academic workers.

The rally of more than 700 people took place outside where the university’s board of governors was meeting, with the intention of sending a message of support for CUPE local 1975.

It represents nearly 3,000 staff at the U of S.

The union chapter is growing increasingly restless after their last collective bargaining agreement with the university expired in 2016, with labour talks stalling over disagreements on pension benefits and wage increases.

University negotiators have proposed no retroactive wage increases for CUPE 1975 members, meaning no raises would go into effect until 2020.

Tuesday’s rally featured hundreds of CUPE members from across Canada being bussed over from TCU Place, where the union’s national conference was taking place.

“The board of governors needs to understand that when you disrespect the workers … when you go after their pensions when you offer zero per cent wage increases, that’s going to piss off the workers,” said national CUPE President Mark Hancock.

CUPE 1975’s membership includes library support staff, tradespeople, groundskeepers and other non-academic staff at the university.

Members have voted in favour of a strike, but the U of S is contending that the union falls under the province’s definition of an essential service, which would make a work stoppage illegal under Saskatchewan law.

A three-day hearing planned between March 26 and 28 in front of the labour board could determine the answer to the strike question.

Hancock said if upcoming negotiations aren’t fruitful and a strike is approved, CUPE 1975 would have access to “every last cent” of the national union’s $100 million strike fund.

Local union president Craig Hanna said at the next negotiation date they plan to submit the same proposal for a joint-sponsored defined benefit pension plan, which was rejected by the university in December.

“I hope they come to their senses,” Hanna said.

In a statement Tuesday afternoon, the university said CUPE 1975’s proposal doesn’t “provide the cost certainty with the university needs over the long-term.”

The statement added the board of governors and president Peter Stoicheff weren’t willing to “undermine” their bargaining team by engaging in direct talks with the union, emphasizing the U of S negotiating team had their full support.

The university said if a strike is called, the campus would remain open and classes would continue.

“It will be the university’s priority to minimize any disruption to our students, and to ensure the health and safety of our campus community,” the statement read.