Article content continued

In an update published online after the offer was delivered, U of S officials said the decision to stop negotiating pensions was based on the fact that an impasse had been reached after “a number of proposals and significant negotiations over pensions.”

“The university will proceed with pension reform at an appropriate time, under its existing right, as confirmed by an arbitrator in 2017,” the update stated, referring to a decision that found pension changes are permitted outside collective bargaining.

Reached by phone Friday morning, CUPE Local 1975 President Craig Hannah acknowledged that the union is disappointed but declined further comment. He said there would be a formal update early this week.

A request to interview U of S officials was declined. In a prepared statement similar to the bargaining update posted online, spokesman Gord Hunchak said the union has not accepted “more than 10 proposed alternatives” to its pension plan.

“The university remains committed to ensuring that all of its employees receive a fair and reasonable pension that is both competitive and financially sustainable for the university,” Hunchak wrote.

Although CUPE Local 1975 has had a strike mandate since the fall, its members — a group that includes clerks, janitors, food workers and technicians — can’t take job action until the Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board issues a decision on essential services.

CUPE Local 1975 disagrees with the university’s previously-stated view that its members “provide critical essential services to ensure the safety and security of students, faculty, staff and the public.” According to the union, the decision is expected sometime in June or July.

The union last went on strike in late 2007, when its members walked the picket line for about a month. While it cannot immediately take job action, CUPE Local 1975 has held several rallies aimed at putting pressure on the university.

amacpherson@postmedia.com

twitter.com/macphersona