Major Rally at University of Saskatchewan

SASKATOON - Hundreds of union activists will join university workers on Wednesday, November 2, for a noon hour rally to urge the presidents of the two universities to make the conclusion of a fair settlement an urgent priority.

CUPE Local 1975, which bargains a provincial agreement on behalf of 1,800 members at the University of Saskatchewan and 600 members at the University of Regina, has been engaged in negotiations with the universities for 23 months. The collective agreement expired December 31, 2003.

“Students who commenced their university studies in the fall of 2003 will graduate next spring,” says Don Puff, the chair of the union’s negotiating committee. “But university workers remain stuck in contract negotiations, with no agreement in sight,” he says.

Puff says the two university presidents must instruct their negotiating committees to “get serious” about contract negotiations. “We need to see more than a pulse on the employer’s side of the bargaining table,” says Puff. “We need to see a commitment from both universities that they are prepared to resolve the outstanding issues and conclude an agreement.”

The noon hour rally will take place in the University of Saskatchewan bowl. University workers as well as union delegates at the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour convention will attend. Speakers include:

• Larry Hubich, President of the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour
  
• Tracy Marchant, Chair of the U of S Faculty Association
  
• Don Puff and Glenn Ross, CUPE Local 1975 spokespersons