For immediate release: Wednesday, June 4, 2003

CALGARY – Staff cutbacks announced today by the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology are certain to damage the quality of education delivered to students of the institution, Alberta Union of Provincial Employees President Dan MacLennan said this afternoon.

SAIT said in a news release today that it plans to abolish the positions of 45 employees. It did not identify the employees and it has not informed the union which positions will be eliminated.

"Whether the cuts come from AUPE’s members or faculty members doesn’t really matter in terms of what SAIT terms its ‘core business,’" MacLennan said. "Like faculty members, administrative and support staff deliver services that students at a post-secondary institution have a right to expect in return for their fees.

"This announcement, combined with a recent history of other layoffs at SAIT, is sure to further degrade the quality of services delivered by that institution," he said.

"Students are very unlikely to see any benefit from moves like these," he added. "Contract workers cost money too. Their services are worse and end up costing more – not to mention the costs incurred putting employees out of work."

However, he added, it’s clear that more funding needs to be provided for Alberta educational institutions so that they can continue to operate effectively. Cuts like these, and the layoffs of teachers and support staff in the school system, show the need for appropriate funding.

AUPE represents support staff at the Calgary technical institution. AUPE expects some of the jobs being abolished are held by AUPE members.

AUPE Union Representative Ray Domeij said AUPE will file unfair labour practices charges with the Alberta Labour Relations Board if the employer continues to deny the union information on which positions are to be abolished.

Other actions that might involve the Labour Relations Board or the courts will be considered when more information is available, he said.

"AUPE will fight very aggressively to ensure the rights of its members are respected by this employer," MacLennan said.

MacLennan noted as he has in the past that Albertans who support the labour movement may want to reconsider donations they plan to make to SAIT’s continuing fund-raising efforts because of its policy of making loyal employees pay for its administration’s budgeting decisions.

For more information, contact:
Dan MacLennan, President, AUPE, 780-930-3301 or 780-910-8392 (cellular phone)
Ray Domeij, Union representative, AUPE (Calgary Regional Office), 403- 531-8613 or 403-461-1815 (cellular phone)
David Climenhaga, Communications Director, AUPE, 780-930-3311 or 780-717-2943 (cellular phone)