SGEU launches campaign to support SIAST staff

Television and newspaper ads challenge SIAST management and the provincial government to negotiate a fair and reasonable contract.

Regina (4 Feb. 2011) - The Saskatchewan Government and General Employees' Union (SGEU/NUPGE) is launching a public campaign to support instructors and professional service staff at the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST).

The employees are trying to negotiate a new and fair collective agreement.

SGEU has begun a province-wide information campaign of newspaper and television advertising to support the employees.

The ads challenge SIAST management and the province to give fair value to the importance of the work done by the employees.

The newspaper ads ran this week in four major provincial newspapers - the Regina Leader Post, the Saskatoon StarPhoenix, the Prince Albert Daily Herald and the Moose Jaw Times Herald.

The print ads point out that it will become increasingly difficult to recruit skilled staff at SIAST without a fair settlement.

"Educators and professional services staff fall even further behind others who work in the same industries," the ad notes. "Without a fair offer, SIAST will not be able to hire and retain the skilled staff we need to prepare our kids for the new labour market."

The employees are asking for a fair and reasonable offer from management. SIAST is offering 5.5% over three years, substantially less than increases received by employees in other credit-granting, post-secondary institutions.

NUPGE

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE

More information:
• SIAST employees shocked by 'illegal' interference
• SGEU releases video to support SIAST employees
• SGEU website