Category: Labour in the News

Hello ASPA,

I write to you today on behalf of our 12,000 members who provide health care within the Sask Health Authority, as they are in need of support.  This group of members provide a variety of valuable services on the health care team: they are continuing care assistants, licensed practical nurses, diagnostic and therapeutic technologists, maintenance personnel, sterile processing workers, administration, food services and environmental services among others.  They have been without a contract since March 31, 2017 and they are done waiting.  Understandably, in the context of COVID, these members are on the front line – they are faced daily with staff shortages – crushing workloads – far too many overtime demands – denied vacation – and the list goes on.  All the while they are still be paid 2016 rates of pay.  It is entirely unfair – and it is a result of our government stubbornly refusing to provide any added resources (beyond their horrible mandate of 0/0/1/2/2) to resolve our contract.

Continue reading “SEIU – West Worksite Actions” →

Guy Quenneville · CBC News · Posted: Apr 28, 2020 3:56 PM CT

The University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon says it’s preparing to temporarily lay off an unspecified number of employees as operations continue to slow under the current restrictions imposed by COVID-19.

Continue reading “Temporary Layoffs at University of Saskatchewan Could Kick off on May 4” →

BY KAYLEEN SAWATZKY AND THOMAS PILLER GLOBAL NEWS Posted April 20, 2020 6:16pm

The University of Regina’s spring/summer semester will be solely delivered via remote learning, using online resources due to policies enacted to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Even though this is a big change from learning in the classroom, registration for the upcoming semester has actually increased eight per cent from this time last year.

Continue reading “University of Regina Enrolment up Despite Online-Only Classes” →

CBC News · Posted: Mar 13, 2020 3:11 PM MT | Last Updated: March 13

The University of Alberta has eliminated 400 positions and could cut another 600 in the coming year in face of government funding reductions, says president David Turpin.

“Over the last four months we have received a reduction in government funding in the order of $110 million,” Turpin told reporters Friday at a news conference. “That is resulting in major changes here.

Continue reading “University of Alberta to eliminate up to 1,000 positions in face of funding cuts” →

Written by Amanda Short, Saskatoon StarPhoenix. February 23, 2020

The union representing University of Saskatchewan graduate and postdoctoral workers is speaking against a proposed tuition hike headed for a vote by the school’s board of governors.

Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) Local 40004 represents all graduate students employed as teaching assistants, teaching fellows, student assistants and research assistants.

Continue reading “U of S Graduate Tuition Hike Could Factor into Bargaining, Union Says” →

Please see the message below from our fellow union members on campus  in the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC):

I am sure you have heard by now that the university has proposed a tuition increase for graduate students at a rate of 10% per year for the next 5 years.  Nearly a thousand of the affected graduate students are PSAC members.  We recognize that all graduate students struggle to make ends meet at times.  We fear that this will put many of our members that are already in a precarious position in a very difficult situation. 

There is a petition being circulated around campus to urge the Board of Governors to reconsider this proposal and the affects it will have on students and programs across campus.  I would ask that you please take the time to sign it.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSecWCKu8GvJIgAqP3314iyHjoq1qjXvx–uhI-bquGjRKq7zw/viewform

In solidarity,

Jesse Todd

Regional Representative PSAC

Union of Graduate and Postdoctoral Workers

University of Saskatchewan

Written by Bryan Eneas · CBC News · Posted: Feb 06, 2020 5:00 AM CT | Last Updated: February 6

Regina’s mayor and chief of police are both keeping public safety at the top of their minds in discussions with the union representing locked out employees and their employer. (Bryan Eneas/CBC)

It’s been two months since employees of the Co-op Refinery in Regina were locked out, but how does the lockout compare to other labour disputes in the province’s history?

From the Regina Riot, to the 1997 dispute between the Retail Wholesale and Departments Store Union and Pepsi, to the 1999 Saskatchewan Union of Nurses strike, to the most recent dispute between the province and Crown employees, labour disruptions are part of the historical fabric of Saskatchewan. 

Continue reading “How Does the Dispute Between Unifor and Co-op Compare to Past Labour Battles in Sask.?” →