No end is sight to University of Saskatchewan CUPE strike

Charles Hamilton, The Sheaf (University of Saskatchewan)

REGINA (CUP) — Workers at the University of Saskatchewan’s largest union, CUPE 1975, continue to walk the picket line for a second week. University services have been scaled back to a bare minimum, and students continue to feel the effects of job action.

“Why should we, as students, have to bear the burden of [their] contract negotiations?” said Warren Kirkland, a students’ union representative. “I’m laying blame on both sides.”

University of Saskatchewan support staff walked off the job on Oct. 30, shutting down or crippling many services on campus.

Virtually all CUPE-run food services are out of service, and students are unable to sign books out from the library or access the bookstore. Janitorial and maintenance duties, including the cleaning of classrooms and bathrooms, are severely reduced and some classes have been cancelled.

Amalgamated Transit Union workers have also been instructed not to cross the picket line, reducing bus services to and around campus.

“I understand from a student’s perspective it is terrible thing to have happen,” said Brad McKaig, chair of the CUPE 1975 bargaining unit.

“Some are ticked off, some are inconvenienced, but once they stop and understand the issues, they realize that the fault isn’t on this side, that the reason we are here is because of the administration.”

The walkout also affected athletic and the fitness centre. But, most of that work has been covered by volunteers and no major disruptions had occurred after the fact.

Negotiations between the two parties broke down after a conciliator said the two sides were too far apart to reach a deal. The university and the union both appear to remain unwilling to budge on the two main issues: benefits and performance increments.

The university is offering a 17 per cent increase in wages and benefits over three years, but a percentage of these increases would be tied to performance.

The union said that without the performance increments, the actual offer only guarantees an 8.25 per cent increase over three years.

Both parties say that performance increments are a matter of principle.

The university said that tying performance reviews to pay increases is essential to the long-term health of the university.

The union countered that the increases tied to performance reviews is money that was already promised to them in a previous contract.

“It’s like saying, ‘We are going to give you this much every year on your anniversary,’ and then one year out of the blue, you say, ‘You know that money you’ve been getting every year on your anniversary? Now you have jump through this special hoop to get it,’” said McKaig. “That’s what we are fighting.”

“We are valuing our employees; we have made a competitive offer to them,” said Barb Daigle, vice-president of human resources at the University of Saskatchewan.

“We’re out here because we believe we are right. We believe that we are being treated unfairly,” said one striking member. “Many of us have little children. There are single moms out here who are going without a paycheque right now, and they are as happy as could be, even though some of them might need to get jobs at night.”

Luke Ryalls, who graduated from the university in 2005 and now runs the university clothing store, said that he is surviving better than most, but would still like to see a deal soon.

“People seem pretty positive still, but it’s early on,” he said. “I’d like to see both parties go back to the table and work things out.”

“We support the fact that they [CUPE 1975] are fighting for their rights, but if the strike itself threatens students’ education, then we have a problem,” said James Pepler, president of the university’s students’ union.

Pepler assured students that all of the union’s services will continue to remain in operation.

Not all students are happy with the strike. Andre and Alexander, two fourth-year arts and science students who didn’t want their last names published, were out on the picket lines Monday morning demanding to know why their education and access to university services is being compromised for the sake of the union.

“A lot of these workers are severely overpaid,” said Alex. “Anyone working in the retail sector, either at Burger King or whatever, would kill to have these wages.”

Andre said that students are suffering the most from the strike.

“As a student, I feel disappointed because they are taking services away from students, which means there are less services for me, and when they get back to work it means there is more tuition for me, too,” he said.

Some faculty members were also out on the picket line, showing their support for the striking union. While individual professors may decide whether or not they wish to cancel classes, the faculty association has encouraged all faculty members to continue teaching as a sign of support for the strike.

Tracy Marchant, a professor of biology and former chair of the faculty association, however, cancelled her classes to walk the picket line.

“There’s been several years of labour turmoil on this campus,” she said. “I think the way this administration is handling the unions, handling labour relations, is absolutely wrong."

"Finally something has happened, and I’m here to support that.”

Administration officials and managers are doing what they can to keep the campus afloat. A handful of union members have been let back in to perform essential services, including operating the heating plant, food for residence students, animal care and medical research projects.