Today’s announcement from the University of Regina that they will be terminating the fee collection agreement with the University of Regina Students’ Union, URSU, completely fails to mention the students or workers impacted by this decision. The agreement oversees the transfer of fees collected by the university on behalf of URSU, who use it to operate and also transfer levy fees to other student centres.
Members of CUPE 1486 are employed by URSU to deliver services that students rely on every day, like the student Upass as well as the health and dental plan. Members of CUPE 1486 are also employed at URSU run businesses like the Lazy Owl. The decision by the University of Regina to terminate the agreement leaves these workers without financial support or certainty.
“In light of this shocking news, we are calling on the university to take on the payroll of all in-scope students’ union workers to ensure student services can continue, and ensure the hardworking staff are not unjustly laid-off,” said Kent Peterson, president of CUPE Saskatchewan. “We represent workers at the University of Regina, the Women’s Centre, and URSU. Recent conflict amongst those employers has caused stress and uncertainty for our members. We want to be part of the solution to ensure student services continue, workers keep their jobs, and proper accountability measures are put in place and followed,” he added.
CUPE has been actively monitoring the financial and governance issues at URSU for some time. The University should have taken the time to come up with a more robust plan that does not leave students and workers in the lurch.
“Having served as president of the University of Regina Students’ Union when I went to school, I personally know the vital work that students’ unions do and the important advocacy role they play,” said Peterson. “Going forward, our union will be happy to partner with students to rebuild a responsive, representative, and accountable students’ union,” he added.