Walking the picket line to support our brothers and sisters from UFCW at the Attridge Co-op

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CUPE Local 1975 is facing a serious pension attack from the University of Saskatchewan. The Local represents 1,900 members who work at the University in a variety of non-academic positions. Local 1975 members are enrolled in a modest Defined Benefit (DB) pension plan that has worked well for nearly 70 years. The employer has stated that it plans to unilaterally close the DB plan and unnecessarily impose an inferior Defined Contribution (DC) pension plan in its place. What’s worse, the University is threatening to do this outside the bargaining process!

Local 1975 is currently in bargaining, hoping to resolve this issue and preserve both their DB plan and their right to determine any pension plan changes at the bargaining table. Talks, however, have reached an impasse and a provincial conciliator is being appointed. The Local has a strong strike mandate from its members.

Like all workers, Local 1975 members deserve a decent and secure retirement after a career of work. Like all workers, Local 1975 members deserve to be able to bargain the terms and conditions of their employment, instead of having them imposed unilaterally by an employer.

Show your support for CUPE Local 1975 by signing the petition

https://cupe.ca/tell-u-s-paws-our-pension

It is with great sadness that we have to say goodbye to our union brother and local president. After a short valiant battle with his health, Tim Powchuk has left us with a void that only he could fill. Our prayers and thoughts are with all who knew and loved him.

May God comfort and welcome him to his kingdom.

John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."

Matthew 5:4: "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted."

Sisters, Brothers and Friends:

At our 2017 National Convention, delegates adopted Resolution 36, which called for the creation of a Task Force on Governance to “conduct a comprehensive review of the governance and structure of our National Union.”

In March 2018, our National Executive Board confirmed the Task Force, which is made up of eight NEB members and eight CUPE activists who serve in elected positions at other levels of our union.

As part of our work, we are seeking input from CUPE members, locals and other chartered bodies. Attached you will find a discussion guide and a survey. The survey has been sent in the mail to your local union.  That same survey is also available to be completed online.

• Take the survey online
• Download a printable version of the survey
• Download the discussion guide

We hope you will make time to discuss this at your local meetings and provide us with your thoughts and ideas for how CUPE can improve its governance. Please complete the survey by November 15, 2018.

In solidarity,

MARK HANCOCK
National President

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